University of Minnesota Athletics

Doug Woog

Gophers Announce Details for Doug Woog Night

1/16/2020 8:25:00 PM | Men's Hockey

MINNEAPOLIS – The University of Minnesota and the Gopher Hockey program have announced details for Doug Woog Night on Saturday, Jan. 25 as Minnesota hosts Ohio State at 3M Arena at Mariucci at 7:30 p.m. CT. 

Hockey fans are invited to join the Maroon & Gold, members of the Woog family and Gopher Hockey alumni in honoring Coach Woog's legacy and celebrating his many contributions to the sport of hockey throughout the game. 

Doug Woog Night Information 
  • Ceremonial puck drop before the game with members of the Woog family. 
  • Doug Woog rally towel giveaway. 
  • Minnesota will wear gold "Wooger" jerseys that were unveiled at the Mariucci Classic. 
  • Special in-game Doug Woog content throughout 3M Arena at Mariucci including alumni testimonials. 
  • Recognition of Gopher alumni in attendance. 
An icon in the state of Minnesota and the sport of hockey, Woog passed away on Dec. 14, 2019 at age 75. 

"Wooger" starred on the ice for South St. Paul High School and the University of Minnesota before eventually returning to the Maroon & Gold to become the Gopher Hockey program's all-time coaching wins leader at the time.  

A native of South St. Paul, Minn., Woog was a first team all-state player in three of his four seasons at South St. Paul High School, leading the Packers to four state tournament appearances. He was also a three-time all-tournament team honoree and was the tournament's leading scorer in 1962. Woog's No. 7 jersey was retired by South St. Paul High School in 2010.

Following high school, Woog was a three-year letter winner at the University of Minnesota from 1964-66 (freshmen were not allowed to play at the time) under the legendary John Mariucci. The forward tallied 101 points (48 goals, 53 assists) in 80 career games for the Maroon & Gold. As a junior in 1964-65, Woog led the Gophers in scoring with 26 goals and 47 points, earning First Team All-America and All-WCHA First Team honors. As a senior in 1965-66, he served as captain as was named team most valuable player.
After graduating with honors in 1967 with a bachelor's degree in education (Woog would later add a master's degree in guidance and counseling from St. Thomas), Woog earned a roster spot on the U.S. Men's National Team, helping the team to a fifth-place finish at the 1967 International Ice Hockey Federation Men's World Championships in Vienna, Austria. Woog was also a candidate for the 1968 U.S. Olympic Team.

His playing days behind him, Woog joined the coaching ranks in 1971 and led the Minnesota Junior Stars (later the St. Paul Vulcans) to two Junior National titles before returning to South St. Paul High School in 1977. As head coach of the boys' hockey team for six years, Woog led the Packers to two conference titles and advanced to the state tournament four times.

In 1978, Woog was chosen to lead the West Team in the U.S. Olympic Festival where his squad won gold. At the 1989 Olympic Festival, Woog duplicated the feat by winning the gold medal with his South squad. He was the assistant coach of the 1982 U.S. National Junior Team and then served as an assistant for the 1984 Olympic team that competed in Sarajevo, Yugoslavia, as well. Later in life, Woog coached the 1985 U.S. National Junior Team, served as the assistant coach for the U.S. in the 1987 Canada Cup and served as head coach of the 1989 U.S. Select-17 Team.

Woog returned to the Gophers as head coach in 1985 and led the program for 14 years including 12-straight NCAA tournament appearances (an NCAA record at the time) and six trips to the NCAA Frozen Four. Behind his coaching, the Gophers also earned four MacNaughton Cups as WCHA regular-season champions and three Broadmoor Trophies as WCHA playoff champions. Woog guided his players to a total of 13 All-America honors while he also coached Robb Stauber (1988) and Brian Bonin (1996) to Hobey Baker Award honors as the nation's top college hockey player.

The 1990 WCHA Coach of the Year, Woog's 388 career wins at Minnesota were a program record at the end of his tenure. Woog's successor, Don Lucia, would later surpass Woog's wins record with 457 career victories with the Maroon & Gold. 

After stepping down as head coach, Woog remained close to the program, working with Gopher Sports Properties and serving as on-air talent for FOX Sports North until the end of the 2013-14 season.

Woog was inducted into the University of Minnesota 'M' Club Hall of Fame in 2000 and the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame in 2002. He was awarded the John McInnes Award, which recognizes "great concern for amateur hockey and youth programs," by the American Hockey Coaches Association in 2008. In March of 2015, Woog was honored by the Minnesota Hockey Coaches Association with the Cliff Thompson Award, given in recognition of outstanding, long-term contributions to the sport of hockey in Minnesota.

"Wooger" has also been named the posthumous recipient of the 2019-20 State of Hockey Legacy Award by the Minnesota Wild in partnership with Minnesota Hockey and FOX Sports North. 

Up Next: U.S. Exhibition Game at 3M Arena at Mariucci
The Gophers host the U.S. Under-18 Team for an exhibition game at 3M Arena at Mariucci on Friday, Jan. 17 at 7:00 p.m. CT (Stream: BTN PLUS). 
  

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