University of Minnesota Athletics
Putting the ‘M’ in the Michelettis
It's hard to imagine Gopher hockey history without Joe, Don and Pat.
The Micheletti brothers from Hibbing lit up the stat sheet for 11 different seasons with the Maroon and Gold in the 1970s and 80s.
To break it down: When a Micheletti was on the roster, the Gophers posted a 303-145-21 record. Joe (1973-77), Don (1976-80) and Pat (1982-86) combined for a total of 209 goals and 314 assists for 523 points in 424 games.
Joe helped the Gophers to two NCAA titles in 1974 and 1976, while Don scored 72 points en route to the 1979 NCAA crown. Pat is cemented into the Gophers record books as the program's second all-time leading goal-scorer (120) and point-getter (269).
The Michelettis shared their program memories, life lessons and advice for today's Gophers.
Why the 'U'
Joe led the way. After winning a state championship with Hibbing High School in 1973, Herb Brooks came up to the Iron Range for a visit, "and that was it," Joe said.
Fellow Hibbing natives and family friends John Perpich and Mike Polich were already playing for Herbie.
"Two Hibbing guys there having success and helping the process was really important," said Joe, now a TV analyst for MSG Network and the NHL on NBC. "I just thought the whole thing – the environment, the coaching, the importance of the program to Minnesota was really important."
Don and Pat watched closely.
"Joe was at the 'U,' Herbie was at the 'U,' – I wanted to be there," said Don, now a software sales executive for Micro Focus. "I wanted to be a part of that great recruiting class of Steve Christoff, Tim Harrer, Eric Strobel, John Meredith, Paul Joswiak, Rob McClanahan and Peter Hayek."
"I wanted to be a Gopher the minute Joe signed," Pat added. "It was pretty prestigious to be considered with all the great players in the state. That was the place to go."
Wearing the 'M'
The tradition of Gopher hockey was instilled in them right away.
"I had so much respect for John Mariucci," said Joe, who tallied 106 points in 135 career games. "Back in those days, the percentage of U.S.-born players to make it to the NHL was extremely low. He had a really good professional career but he was all about the University of Minnesota and promoting U.S.-born kids and so there was an awful lot of tradition because of John. He and Herbie had this relationship, and of course John Mayasich, who might have been the greatest player to come out of Minnesota, and what he meant to the program.
"These are really important people; really good people that had proved themselves and were very influential in helping grow the program at the 'U.' And it doesn't take long to be around, and you start hearing the stories and meet some of them, to understand what kind of program it is."
Those same Gopher legends helped shape Pat.
"They taught me how to be a college player," he said. "They taught me respect. They taught me how to be a Minnesota Gopher and what it meant. And what it meant to me was playing for the people who played before me.
"I recall visiting John Mariucci in the hospital immediately after a game just before he passed away and presenting him with the game puck. He was very important because he followed me since I was a Peewee. That's how long I knew him and Herbie and John Mayasich."
'The Barn' was electric
Memories of the old home rink at Williams Arena – "The Barn" – still give the Michelettis chills.
Pat recalled all of the kids lined up on the glass for warm-ups, and he'd flip pucks to them.
"And I remember the same kid used to come every home game, and 30-some odd years later, the guy gets ahold of me and says, 'Remember me? I was that kid,'" Pat said. "It was unbelievable. To see you had some impact on someone who was 6, 7 years old at the time – that says it all."
It gave them an edge every night.
"It had that upper deck that kind of hung right over," said Joe. "It was a very intimidating place for opposing teams to come and play. I'll just never forget the enthusiasm our fans had and the way we got treated. How they helped us when we played home games. I'll never forget it, and I don't think I've ever seen anything like it."
"There was an electricity in the air every time we played," added Don, who registered 64 goals and 84 assists for 148 points in 127 career games. "The fans were packed in for our warm-ups. The fan base was fantastic. It was the best place to play a game."
Advice for today's Gophers
The Michelettis have a clear message for current and future Gophers:
Preserve the tradition.
"If you're a young player, go back and learn about some of the tradition," Joe said. "To me anyway, it made me understand that it was more than just another sport, and more than just another university team. There was something that was ingrained in that program that was built by some marvelous people. I just remember knowing that it felt like the group of us that came in as freshmen, and the group that came in after that, you had a responsibility to the people that really put that program on the map. Embrace it and take that attitude and I think it will be the greatest four years of your life."
Pride on Ice is not just a slogan for Don and Pat.
"You can always do more than you think you can," Don said. "You just can never quit. Take pride in everything you do."
"You did not want to, at least for me, do anything to disrespect the University of Minnesota," Pat said. "The pride – that's why it's called Pride on Ice. Above and beyond goals and assists, above everything, you wanted to represent the 'U' in the right way. There was no person that was bigger than the 'M.' And you want to make sure you did your part to not disrespect it.
"Take a step back and remember how good you have it here, and how lucky you are to wear the Maroon and Gold. Don't let a day go by without enjoying it."
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