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Photo by: Kelly Hagenson
'U' Announces Men's Hockey Team Awards
8/18/2023 10:00:00 AM | Men's Hockey
MINNEAPOLIS - After reaching the 2023 NCAA championship game and winning its sixth Big Ten Conference championship, the University of Minnesota men's hockey team announced its annual team awards for the 2022-23 campaign.
John Mariucci MVP Award - Matthew Knies
Heralded as the "Godfather of Minnesota Hockey," John Mariucci (Eveleth, Minn.) was a two-sport athlete (hockey and football) at the University of Minnesota before returning to his alma mater as head coach of Gopher Hockey from 1952-1955 and 1956-66 (taking one year off to lead the U.S. Olympic Team to a silver medal in 1956). As a player, Mariucci was a First Team All-American and team captain for Gopher Hockey in 1940, leading the Maroon & Gold to the 1940 National AAU Tournament title with a perfect 18-0-0 record. Mariucci also helped the Gopher football program win a national title in 1940. Following college, Mariucci played in 223 career NHL games with the Chicago Blackhawks. Mariucci, who passed away in 1987, was inducted into the inaugural class of the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame in 1973 and inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame as a builder in 1985.
Knies proved to be one of the most dominant players in the nation on both ends of the ice in 2022-23 and was named a Hobey Baker Memorial Award Hat Trick Finalist as well as the B1G Player of the Year. The sophomore earned AHCA/CCM Hockey All-American West First Team honors behind career highs of 21 goals, 21 assists and 42 points. The Phoenix, Ariz., native also led the NCAA with seven game-winning goals, all of which came against teams ranked in the top 15 of national polls.
Mike Crupi Most Determined Player Award - Brock Faber
Mike Crupi (St. Paul, Minn.) helped St. Paul Johnson win the 1963 Minnesota State High School Tournament before lettering twice for the Gophers in 1966 and 1967. The forward recorded 44 points (23 goals, 21 assists) and 128 penalty minutes in 54 career games. His 27 penalty minutes against Michigan on Jan. 13, 1967, remains the program's single-game record for penalty minutes. Crupi passed away as a result of an automobile accident at the age of 22 in 1969 while playing professional hockey.
An AHCA/CCM Hockey All-American West First Team selection, Faber set career highs with four goals, 23 assists and 27 points from the blue line. The native of Maple Grove, Minn., also was named B1G Defensive Player of the Year and landed on the All-Big Ten First Team for the second year in a row. He had a point in three of four NCAA Tournament games, totaling four assists and was a plus-six on the national stage, and finished the season with a plus-29 rating, which ranked fifth nationally for defenseman.
Frank Pond Rookie of the Year Award - Logan Cooley
Frank Pond (Two Harbors, Minn.) served as the third captain of Pride on Ice during the 1923-24 season and led Minnesota to a 13-1-0 record as conference champions. Pond later became the program's head coach for five seasons from 1930-1935 and led the Maroon and Gold to a 46-24-4 record behind the bench. Pond passed away in 1993.
Cooley put together one of the best rookie seasons in team history on the way to being named a Hobey Baker Memorial Award Hat Trick Finalist and an AHCA/CCM Hockey West First Team All-American for the Gophers. His 60 points were second nationally and ranked fifth in Minnesota history for single-season points by a freshman coming via 22 goals and 38 assists. The Pittsburgh, Pa., product shined down the stretch, totaling 12 points in six postseason games, including eight points in four NCAA Tournament outings, and had at least one point in 16 of the season's final 17 games.
Elwin "Doc" Romnes Leadership & Sportsmanship Award - Brock Faber
Elwin "Doc" Romnes (White Bear Lake, Minn.) coached the Maroon & Gold for five seasons between 1947 and 1952 following a successful playing career at St. Thomas that led to Romnes being one of only two Americans in the NHL in 1927. He played in the Stanley Cup Final on four different occasions in his career, winning the Cup with the Chicago Blackhawks in 1934 and 1938. In 403 career NHL games, Romnes served just 46 penalty minutes and earned the Lady Byng Trophy in 1936. Romnes passed away in 1984.
Faber stepped into the role of team captain for the Maroon and Gold during his junior campaign and guided the Gophers to their second-straight B1G regular season title and a trip to the NCAA Frozen Four. He showcased his leadership all over the ice and blocked a total of 54 shots, the second-most on the team, along with scoring the only game-winning goal of his career against Ohio State. Faber tallied a career-long, six-game point streak from Nov. 17 to Dec. 3 and recorded five multi-point outings, including a pair of season-high, three-point performances.
Dr. V. George Nagobads Unsung Hero Award - Mason Nevers
Dr. V. George Nagobads (Riga, Latvia) remains one of the greatest influencers of American hockey of his time. Nagobads served as Gopher Hockey's team physician from 1958 until his retirement in 1992 – helping Minnesota to the program's first three national titles in 1974, 1976 and 1979. In 1978, Herb Brooks took the trophy Nagobads donated to the program and established the annual Dr. V. George Nagobads Unsung Hero Award. His largest contributions to hockey in the United States may have come on the international stage, however. Nagobads was named the team physician for five U.S. Olympic Men's Ice Hockey Teams (1968, 1972, 1980, 1984, and 1988); including the "Miracle on Ice" squad that won the gold medal at the 1980 Olympic Winter Games in Lake Placid and the silver medal-winning 1972 U.S. Olympic Men's Ice Hockey Team that competed in Sapporo. Nagobads was inducted into the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame as part of the 1980 U.S. Olympic Team in 2003 and later honored individually by the organization in 2010.
Nevers set career highs in goals (10), assists (13) and points (23), helping Minnesota to a 7-2-1 record when he scored a goal on the way to its second-consecutive appearance in the NCAA Frozen Four. He excelled during B1G play, recording 16 points in 24 league games, while the Edina, Minn., product registered four multi-point performances, including a career-best three points versus Michigan on Jan. 21. Nevers also tallied points in both games at the NCAA Fargo Regional with a goal against Canisius and an assist in the win over in-state foe St. Cloud State.
John Mayasich Outstanding Student-Athlete Award - Colin Schmidt
John Mayasich (Eveleth, Minn.) remains the icon of Gopher Hockey decades after lacing his skates up for the final time. A four-time All-American, Mayasich still holds school records with 298 points and 144 goals in 111 career games while his 154 assists rank second in program history. A team captain for the Maroon and Gold during the 1954-55 season, Mayasich's No. 8 jersey is the only retired number in Gopher Hockey history. Prior to joining the Gophers, Mayasich helped Eveleth High School win four-straight state titles from 1948-51. Following his college career, Mayasich won a silver medal at the 1956 Winter Olympic Games in Cortina d'Ampezzo before adding a gold medal at the 1960 Winter Olympic Games in Squaw Valley. Mayasich was inducted into the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame in 1976.
Schmidt played nine games in his final collegiate season and was named the NCAA's Elite 90 Award winner as the student-athlete with the highest cumulative grade point average at the NCAA Frozen Four, an honor he has now received each of the last two years. The Gophers owned an 8-1-0 record when the Wayzata, Minn., native was in the lineup in 2022-23 and blocked a total of six shots. He was given the Big Ten Distinguished Scholar Award and landed on the Academic All-B1G Team for the second-straight season.
Donald M. Clark Community Service Award - Ryan Johnson
Donald M. Clark (Kensal, N.D.) may not have played for Gopher Hockey, but his contributions to the sport of hockey have made lasting impressions on the program even following his death in 1999. A 1941 graduate of the University of Minnesota, Clark helped found the Minnesota Amateur Hockey Association in 1947 and later served as vice president of the Amateur Hockey Association of the United States and served for many years as a member of the U.S. Olympic Hockey committee. Clark was honored by the NHL with the Lester Patrick Award in 1975 and was inducted into the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame in 1978.
Johnson served as an alternate captain for Minnesota and recorded a career-best four goals, including the first game winner of his career at Notre Dame (Jan. 14), to go with 14 assists and 18 total points. A native of Irvine, Calif., he led the team with 64 blocked shots and earned a spot on the All-B1G Honorable Mention Team and was given the Big Ten Sportsmanship Award. Johnson also was a nominee for the Hockey Humanitarian Award and landed on the Academic All-B1G Team for the third time as a Gopher.
Tom Mohr Playoff MVP Award - Justen Close
Tom Mohr (Hopkins, Minn.) appeared in just 12 career games as a goalie for the Gophers with an 8-3-1 record, but his final appearance will never be forgotten. In the 1976 NCAA title game, Minnesota fell behind Michigan Tech 3-1 after the first period, causing Coach Herb Brooks to send in Mohr for a relief appearance. Mohr stopped 11 of the 12 shots he faced as Minnesota rallied for a 6-4 victory to earn the program's second national championship.
Close finished the campaign as the B1G leader in goals against average (2.02), wins (26) and shutouts (6) and was second in save percentage (.927), all of which ranked in the top four nationally. His six shutouts were the second-most in single-season history for the Maroon and Gold as the impressive season between the pipes earned the Kindersley, Sask., product four B1G Star of the Week honors and a spot on the All-B1G Second Team.
Season tickets for Minnesota men's hockey in 2023-24 are now on sale at GopherSports.com. Season ticket holders have exclusive access to the Gopher Loyalty Program, providing access to over 100 experiences and benefits, along with discounted regular season and Big Ten tournament tickets, merchandise discounts and more.
John Mariucci MVP Award - Matthew Knies
Heralded as the "Godfather of Minnesota Hockey," John Mariucci (Eveleth, Minn.) was a two-sport athlete (hockey and football) at the University of Minnesota before returning to his alma mater as head coach of Gopher Hockey from 1952-1955 and 1956-66 (taking one year off to lead the U.S. Olympic Team to a silver medal in 1956). As a player, Mariucci was a First Team All-American and team captain for Gopher Hockey in 1940, leading the Maroon & Gold to the 1940 National AAU Tournament title with a perfect 18-0-0 record. Mariucci also helped the Gopher football program win a national title in 1940. Following college, Mariucci played in 223 career NHL games with the Chicago Blackhawks. Mariucci, who passed away in 1987, was inducted into the inaugural class of the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame in 1973 and inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame as a builder in 1985.
Knies proved to be one of the most dominant players in the nation on both ends of the ice in 2022-23 and was named a Hobey Baker Memorial Award Hat Trick Finalist as well as the B1G Player of the Year. The sophomore earned AHCA/CCM Hockey All-American West First Team honors behind career highs of 21 goals, 21 assists and 42 points. The Phoenix, Ariz., native also led the NCAA with seven game-winning goals, all of which came against teams ranked in the top 15 of national polls.
Mike Crupi Most Determined Player Award - Brock Faber
Mike Crupi (St. Paul, Minn.) helped St. Paul Johnson win the 1963 Minnesota State High School Tournament before lettering twice for the Gophers in 1966 and 1967. The forward recorded 44 points (23 goals, 21 assists) and 128 penalty minutes in 54 career games. His 27 penalty minutes against Michigan on Jan. 13, 1967, remains the program's single-game record for penalty minutes. Crupi passed away as a result of an automobile accident at the age of 22 in 1969 while playing professional hockey.
An AHCA/CCM Hockey All-American West First Team selection, Faber set career highs with four goals, 23 assists and 27 points from the blue line. The native of Maple Grove, Minn., also was named B1G Defensive Player of the Year and landed on the All-Big Ten First Team for the second year in a row. He had a point in three of four NCAA Tournament games, totaling four assists and was a plus-six on the national stage, and finished the season with a plus-29 rating, which ranked fifth nationally for defenseman.
Frank Pond Rookie of the Year Award - Logan Cooley
Frank Pond (Two Harbors, Minn.) served as the third captain of Pride on Ice during the 1923-24 season and led Minnesota to a 13-1-0 record as conference champions. Pond later became the program's head coach for five seasons from 1930-1935 and led the Maroon and Gold to a 46-24-4 record behind the bench. Pond passed away in 1993.
Cooley put together one of the best rookie seasons in team history on the way to being named a Hobey Baker Memorial Award Hat Trick Finalist and an AHCA/CCM Hockey West First Team All-American for the Gophers. His 60 points were second nationally and ranked fifth in Minnesota history for single-season points by a freshman coming via 22 goals and 38 assists. The Pittsburgh, Pa., product shined down the stretch, totaling 12 points in six postseason games, including eight points in four NCAA Tournament outings, and had at least one point in 16 of the season's final 17 games.
Elwin "Doc" Romnes Leadership & Sportsmanship Award - Brock Faber
Elwin "Doc" Romnes (White Bear Lake, Minn.) coached the Maroon & Gold for five seasons between 1947 and 1952 following a successful playing career at St. Thomas that led to Romnes being one of only two Americans in the NHL in 1927. He played in the Stanley Cup Final on four different occasions in his career, winning the Cup with the Chicago Blackhawks in 1934 and 1938. In 403 career NHL games, Romnes served just 46 penalty minutes and earned the Lady Byng Trophy in 1936. Romnes passed away in 1984.
Faber stepped into the role of team captain for the Maroon and Gold during his junior campaign and guided the Gophers to their second-straight B1G regular season title and a trip to the NCAA Frozen Four. He showcased his leadership all over the ice and blocked a total of 54 shots, the second-most on the team, along with scoring the only game-winning goal of his career against Ohio State. Faber tallied a career-long, six-game point streak from Nov. 17 to Dec. 3 and recorded five multi-point outings, including a pair of season-high, three-point performances.
Dr. V. George Nagobads Unsung Hero Award - Mason Nevers
Dr. V. George Nagobads (Riga, Latvia) remains one of the greatest influencers of American hockey of his time. Nagobads served as Gopher Hockey's team physician from 1958 until his retirement in 1992 – helping Minnesota to the program's first three national titles in 1974, 1976 and 1979. In 1978, Herb Brooks took the trophy Nagobads donated to the program and established the annual Dr. V. George Nagobads Unsung Hero Award. His largest contributions to hockey in the United States may have come on the international stage, however. Nagobads was named the team physician for five U.S. Olympic Men's Ice Hockey Teams (1968, 1972, 1980, 1984, and 1988); including the "Miracle on Ice" squad that won the gold medal at the 1980 Olympic Winter Games in Lake Placid and the silver medal-winning 1972 U.S. Olympic Men's Ice Hockey Team that competed in Sapporo. Nagobads was inducted into the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame as part of the 1980 U.S. Olympic Team in 2003 and later honored individually by the organization in 2010.
Nevers set career highs in goals (10), assists (13) and points (23), helping Minnesota to a 7-2-1 record when he scored a goal on the way to its second-consecutive appearance in the NCAA Frozen Four. He excelled during B1G play, recording 16 points in 24 league games, while the Edina, Minn., product registered four multi-point performances, including a career-best three points versus Michigan on Jan. 21. Nevers also tallied points in both games at the NCAA Fargo Regional with a goal against Canisius and an assist in the win over in-state foe St. Cloud State.
John Mayasich Outstanding Student-Athlete Award - Colin Schmidt
John Mayasich (Eveleth, Minn.) remains the icon of Gopher Hockey decades after lacing his skates up for the final time. A four-time All-American, Mayasich still holds school records with 298 points and 144 goals in 111 career games while his 154 assists rank second in program history. A team captain for the Maroon and Gold during the 1954-55 season, Mayasich's No. 8 jersey is the only retired number in Gopher Hockey history. Prior to joining the Gophers, Mayasich helped Eveleth High School win four-straight state titles from 1948-51. Following his college career, Mayasich won a silver medal at the 1956 Winter Olympic Games in Cortina d'Ampezzo before adding a gold medal at the 1960 Winter Olympic Games in Squaw Valley. Mayasich was inducted into the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame in 1976.
Schmidt played nine games in his final collegiate season and was named the NCAA's Elite 90 Award winner as the student-athlete with the highest cumulative grade point average at the NCAA Frozen Four, an honor he has now received each of the last two years. The Gophers owned an 8-1-0 record when the Wayzata, Minn., native was in the lineup in 2022-23 and blocked a total of six shots. He was given the Big Ten Distinguished Scholar Award and landed on the Academic All-B1G Team for the second-straight season.
Donald M. Clark Community Service Award - Ryan Johnson
Donald M. Clark (Kensal, N.D.) may not have played for Gopher Hockey, but his contributions to the sport of hockey have made lasting impressions on the program even following his death in 1999. A 1941 graduate of the University of Minnesota, Clark helped found the Minnesota Amateur Hockey Association in 1947 and later served as vice president of the Amateur Hockey Association of the United States and served for many years as a member of the U.S. Olympic Hockey committee. Clark was honored by the NHL with the Lester Patrick Award in 1975 and was inducted into the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame in 1978.
Johnson served as an alternate captain for Minnesota and recorded a career-best four goals, including the first game winner of his career at Notre Dame (Jan. 14), to go with 14 assists and 18 total points. A native of Irvine, Calif., he led the team with 64 blocked shots and earned a spot on the All-B1G Honorable Mention Team and was given the Big Ten Sportsmanship Award. Johnson also was a nominee for the Hockey Humanitarian Award and landed on the Academic All-B1G Team for the third time as a Gopher.
Tom Mohr Playoff MVP Award - Justen Close
Tom Mohr (Hopkins, Minn.) appeared in just 12 career games as a goalie for the Gophers with an 8-3-1 record, but his final appearance will never be forgotten. In the 1976 NCAA title game, Minnesota fell behind Michigan Tech 3-1 after the first period, causing Coach Herb Brooks to send in Mohr for a relief appearance. Mohr stopped 11 of the 12 shots he faced as Minnesota rallied for a 6-4 victory to earn the program's second national championship.
Close finished the campaign as the B1G leader in goals against average (2.02), wins (26) and shutouts (6) and was second in save percentage (.927), all of which ranked in the top four nationally. His six shutouts were the second-most in single-season history for the Maroon and Gold as the impressive season between the pipes earned the Kindersley, Sask., product four B1G Star of the Week honors and a spot on the All-B1G Second Team.
Season tickets for Minnesota men's hockey in 2023-24 are now on sale at GopherSports.com. Season ticket holders have exclusive access to the Gopher Loyalty Program, providing access to over 100 experiences and benefits, along with discounted regular season and Big Ten tournament tickets, merchandise discounts and more.
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