1952–53 Michigan Wolverines men's ice hockey season

Sports season March 2026 August 2023 color:white; background:#00274C; a #FFCB05 2px white white Michigan Wolverines white 1952–53 Michigan Wolverines logo.svg Michigan Wolverines men MCHL T–1st 17–7–0 10–4 5–3 2–0 Vic Heyliger John Matchefts Michigan Coliseum MCHL Co–ChampionNational champion 1953 NCAA Tournament champion 1951–52 1953–54 Michigan Wolverines #FFFFFF background:#eeeeee; The 1952–53 Michigan Wolverines men's ice hockey team represented the University of Michigan in college ice hockey. In its ninth year under head coach Vic Heyliger, the team compiled a 17–7–0 record, outscored opponents 139 to 71, and won the 1953 NCAA Division I Men's Ice Hockey Tournament.Michigan Hockey Record Book University of Michigan 2, 6, 7 http://grfx.cstv.com/photos/schools/mich/sports/m-hockey/auto_pdf/2012-13/misc_non_event/ihm-recordbook-pre-2012-13.pdf 2013-10-02 2013-05-16 https://web.archive.org/web/20130516090050/http://grfx.cstv.com/photos/schools/mich/sports/m-hockey/auto_pdf/2012-13/misc_non_event/ihm-recordbook-pre-2012-13.pdf dead The season was the third consecutive, and the fourth overall under Vic Heyliger, in which the Michigan hockey team won the NCAA championship. The team also finished the regular season in at tie with Minnesota as the co-champion of the Midwest Collegiate Hockey League.Wrestlers Win Big Ten Title: Track, Swimming Teams Place Second in Conference Meets While Michigan Hockey Sextet Shares League Crown The Michigan Alumnus March 14, 1953 294–295 Individual accomplishments Team captain John Matchefts, a senior from Eveleth, Minnesota, was the leading scorer with 48 points on 18 goals and 30 assists. Michigan left wing Johnny McKennell, a senior from Toronto, was suspended for the remainder of the season after he allegedly punched referee Milo Yalich in Denver, Colorado, following a 5–4 overtime loss to the Denver Pioneers on December 23, 1952. McKennell was accused of slugging Yalich three times while disputing Denver's game-winning overtime goal. Athletic director Fritz Crisler announced the suspension after receiving a notarized report from the president of the Rocky Mountain Hockey Officials Association in early January 1953.Michigan Icemen Meet Spartan Sextet Tonight The Michigan Daily January 7, 1953 3 https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=8hVKAAAAIBAJ&pg=734,40447&dq=michigan+hockey&hl=enMcKennell Draws Year Suspension The Windsor Star January 10, 1953 19 https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=nDA_AAAAIBAJ&pg=6393,2246640&dq=mckennell+michigan+hockey&hl=enCharge Wolve Hockey Ace Struck Referee The Milwaukee Sentinel December 26, 1952 Part 2, page 2 https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=3EUxAAAAIBAJ&pg=4249,849318&dq=mckennell+michigan+hockey&hl=en McKennell denied hitting the referee and claimed that he was the victim of a plot by Colorado College coach Cheddy Thompson to "get even" with Michigan coach Vic Heyliger. Heyliger opined that the suspension was too severe, noting that McKennell had no prior disciplinary action in three years and the evidence was conflicting as to whether McKennell even hit Yalich. Heyliger noted, "This has ruined Johnny's whole college career."Hockey Wing Draws Ban For Season The Michigan Daily Ed Whipple January 10, 1953 1 https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=8hVKAAAAIBAJ&pg=1454,121115&dq=mckennell+michigan+hockey&hl=en Right winger Earl Keyes, who served as captain of the 1951–52 Michigan hockey team, graduated in January 1953 and played his final game for the Wolverines on January 17, 1953. At the time, The Michigan Daily called Keyes "[o]ne of the best players in Michigan hockey history" and praised him for his versatility. Keyes played at the center position for two-and-a-half years, moved to right wing in 1952, appeared in several games as a defensemen, and even played at the goalie position for two games. In two games at goalie, he had 49 saves in back-to-back victories over Michigan Tech during the 1950-51 season.Right Wing Keyes Plays Final Game Tomorrow The Michigan Daily January 16, 1953 Dave Baad https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=8hVKAAAAIBAJ&pg=2614,329859&dq=michigan+hockey&hl=en Earl Keyes, Alex MacLellan, John Matchefts and John McKennell are the only men's ice hockey players in NCAA history to win three national titles. Additionally, they are among the only players to play in a national championship game each season in which they had eligibility (3 seasons for players prior to 1969, 4 seasons for players after 1969). 1953 NCAA Tournament In the 1953 NCAA Division I Men's Ice Hockey Tournament, Michigan and Minnesota were invited to represent the west, and Boston University and Rensselaer Polytechnic were invited to represent the east. In the first round, the Wolverines defeated the Boston University Terriers by a 14–2 score. In the championship game, Michigan faced Minnesota before a capacity crowd of 2,700 at Broadmoor Arena in Colorado Springs, Colorado.Michigan Hockey Record Book (Part II: Team History), p. 8. Michigan and Minnesota had played four games in the regular season, with Minnesota winning three of the four contests. In mid-February, the Golden Gophers had swept a two-game series in Minneapolis by scores of 5-2 and 4–0.Michigan Hockey Record Book (Part I: Through the Year), p. 6. Minnesota led 2–1 at the end of the first period of the championship game. Jim Haas gave Michigan a 1–0 lead with a goal at the 5:48 mark of the opening period (assist by Alex MacLellan), but Minnesota took the lead on goals by Dick Meredith and Dick Dougherty. In the second period, Michigan scored two goals to take a 3–2 lead. Doug Philpott scored at the 6:15 mark (with an assist by Reg Shave) to tie the score at 2-2, and Doug Mullen put Michigan in the lead with a goal at the 11:08 mark (with assists by George Chin and Pat Cooney). Michigan added three goals in the first ten minutes of the third period to extend the lead to 6–2. John Matchefts scored an unassisted power play goal at 3:38 of the third period; Jim Haas added an unassisted goal at the 7:17 mark; and Doug Philpott scored on a power play at 9:14 with an assist from Haas. Minnesota scored on a goal by Yackel at 10:42, and Matchefts closed out the scoring with an empty net goal with 11 second left in the game (assist by Philpott). With four goals in the third period, Michigan won its third consecutive NCAA championship, defeating the Golden Gophers by a 7–3 score.Michigan Six Keeps N.C.A.A. Crown, 7-3 The New York Times March 15, 1953 https://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=FB0A1EF7345E107A93C7A81788D85F478585F9 Alex McLellan and John Matchefts were chosen for the first-team All-Tournament Team. Matchefts was named the Most Outstanding Player in the tournament.Michigan Hockey Record Book University of Michigan 16–17 http://grfx.cstv.com/photos/schools/mich/sports/m-hockey/auto_pdf/2012-13/misc_non_event/ihm-recordbook-pre-2012-13.pdf 2013-10-02 2013-05-16 https://web.archive.org/web/20130516090050/http://grfx.cstv.com/photos/schools/mich/sports/m-hockey/auto_pdf/2012-13/misc_non_event/ihm-recordbook-pre-2012-13.pdf dead Standings UM Schedule |- !colspan=12 style="Michigan Wolverines #FFFFFF;" | Regular season December 6 w yes no 1952–53 men St. Lawrence Saints St. Lawrence Weinberg Coliseum Ann Arbor, Michigan 6–1 1–0–0 December 13 w yes no 1952–53 men Toronto Varsity Blues Toronto Weinberg Coliseum Ann Arbor, Michigan 6–3 2–0–0 December 19 w yes 1952–53 men Colorado College Tigers Colorado College Broadmoor World Arena Colorado Springs, Colorado 3–2 3–0–0 1–0–0 December 20 w yes 1952–53 men Colorado College Tigers Colorado College Broadmoor World Arena Colorado Springs, Colorado 10–6 4–0–0 2–0–0 December 22 w yes 1952–53 men Denver Pioneers Denver DU Arena Denver, Colorado 5–2 5–0–0 3–0–0 December 23 l yes 1952–53 men Denver Pioneers Denver DU Arena Denver, Colorado 4–5 OT 5–1–0 3–1–0 January 7 w yes 1952–53 men Michigan State Spartans Michigan StateMichigan Pucksters Blank MSC, 6-0 Paul Greenberg The Michigan Daily January 8, 1953 1 https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=8hVKAAAAIBAJ&pg=832,603284&dq=michigan+hockey&hl=en Demonstration Hall East Lansing, Michigan 6–0 6–1–0 4–1–0 January 9 w yes no MontrealIcers Trounce Montreal, 13-2 Hanley Gurwin The Michigan Daily January 10, 1953 1 https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=8hVKAAAAIBAJ&pg=832,603284&dq=michigan+hockey&hl=en(eight Michigan goals in the first period; hat tricks by both George Chin and Doug Mullen) Weinberg Coliseum Ann Arbor, Michigan 13–2 7–1–0 4–1–0 January 10 l yes no MontrealMontreal Stuns Michigan Icemen Bob Margolin The Michigan Daily January 11, 1953 1 https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=8hVKAAAAIBAJ&pg=832,603284&dq=michigan+hockey&hl=en Weinberg Coliseum Ann Arbor, Michigan 1–2 7–2–0 4–1–0 January 14 w no 1952–53 men Michigan State Spartans Michigan StateWolverine Puckmen Rip State, 10-2 Paul Greenberg The Michigan Daily January 15, 1953 1 https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=8hVKAAAAIBAJ&pg=832,603284&dq=michigan+hockey&hl=en Weinberg Coliseum Ann Arbor, Michigan 10–2 8–2–0 5–1–0 January 16 l no 1952–53 men Minnesota Golden Gophers Minnesota Weinberg Coliseum Ann Arbor, Michigan 3–4 8–3–0 5–2–0 January 17 w no 1952–53 men Minnesota Golden Gophers Minnesota Weinberg Coliseum Ann Arbor, Michigan 5–4 9–3–0 6–2–0 February 11 w no 1952–53 men Michigan State Spartans Michigan StateMichigan Pucksters Blank MSC, 4-0 The Michigan Daily February 12, 1953 1 https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=8hVKAAAAIBAJ&pg=1486,546954&dq=michigan+hockey&hl=en Weinberg Coliseum Ann Arbor, Michigan 4–0 10–3–0 7–2–0 February 13 l yes 1952–53 men Minnesota Golden Gophers Minnesota Williams Arena Minneapolis, Minnesota 2–5 10–4–0 7–3–0 February 14 l yes 1952–53 men Minnesota Golden Gophers Minnesota Williams Arena Minneapolis, Minnesota 0–4 10–5–0 7–4–0 February 20 w no 1952–53 men North Dakota Fighting Sioux North Dakota Weinberg Coliseum Ann Arbor, Michigan 5–3 11–5–0 8–4–0 February 21 w no 1952–53 men North Dakota Fighting Sioux North Dakota Weinberg Coliseum Ann Arbor, Michigan 8–3 12–5–0 9–4–0 February 27 l yes no McGill Weinberg Coliseum Ann Arbor, Michigan 0–7 12–6–0 9–4–0 February 28 l yes no McGill Weinberg Coliseum Ann Arbor, Michigan 1–2 12–7–0 9–4–0 March 4 w yes 1952–53 men Michigan State Spartans Michigan State Demonstration Hall East Lansing, Michigan 8–4 13–7–0 10–4–0 March 6 w no 1952–53 men Michigan Tech Huskies Michigan Tech Weinberg Coliseum Ann Arbor, Michigan 8–3 14–7–0 11–4–0 March 7 w no 1952–53 men Michigan Tech Huskies Michigan Tech Weinberg Coliseum Ann Arbor, Michigan 10–2 15–7–0 12–4–0 |- !colspan=12 style="Michigan Wolverines #FFFFFF;" | #FFFFFF NCAA Tournament March 13 w yes yes 1952–53 men Boston University Terriers Boston University Broadmoor World Arena Colorado Springs, Colorado National Semifinal 14–2 16–7–0 12–4–0 March 14 w yes yes 1952–53 men Minnesota Golden Gophers Minnesota Broadmoor World Arena Colorado Springs, Colorado National championship 7–3 17–7–0 12–4–0 no Source:Through the Years: Season-By-Season Results https://s3.amazonaws.com/mgoblue.com/documents/2016/9/20/ihm-throughtheyears.pdf Michigan Wolverines December 6, 2018 Roster and scoring statistics 2 Michigan Wolverines No. Name Year Position Hometown unsortable S/P/C Games Goals Assists Pts #FFFFFF PIM 4 John Matchefts Senior C Eveleth, MN Minnesota 24 18 30 48 24 6 George Chin Junior RW Lucknow, ON Ontario 24 20 27 47 0 19 Doug Mullen 1 Junior C Grass Lake, MI Michigan 24 20 19 39 10 8 Pat Cooney 1 Junior LW Riverside, ON Ontario 24 15 19 34 40 12 Doug Philpott 1 Junior RW Sarnia, ON Ontario 24 16 13 29 24 2 Jim Haas Jim Haas (ice hockey) Junior D Nipawin, SK Saskatchewan 24 7 16 23 16 7 Earl Keyes 1 Senior C Tiverton, ON Ontario 12 12 8 20 8 18 Alex MacLellan Senior D Montreal, PQ Quebec 24 1 15 16 67 10 John McKennell Senior RW Toronto, ON Ontario 6 7 5 12 6 17 Reg Shave 1 Junior D Yorkton, SK Saskatchewan 24 7 5 12 32 5 Burt Dunn 1 Sophomore D Montreal, PQ Quebec 24 4 7 11 42 15 Ron Martinson 1 Senior LW Eveleth, MN Minnesota 17 7 2 9 16 14 Telly Mascarin 1 Sophomore C Windsor, ON Ontario 24 4 4 8 7 16 Louis Paolatto 1 Junior D Windsor, ON Ontario 24 1 3 4 46 1 Bill Lucier 1 Sophomore G Windsor, ON Ontario 8 0 0 0 0 1 Willard Ikola Junior G Eveleth, MN Minnesota 20 0 0 0 0 Total Albert P. Pickus, a senior from Sioux City, Iowa, was awarded the Manager's "M" for his service as the team's manager.Athletic Awards For 1952-53 Winter Sports The Michigan Alumnus April 11, 1953 327 https://books.google.com/books?id=ogLiAAAAMAAJ Univ. of Michigan 1950-51 roster and statistics https://www.eliteprospects.com/team/803/univ.-of-michigan/1950-1951?tab=stats EliteProspects 2018-10-24 1953 national championship Minnesota vs. Michigan Minnesota Michigan Broadmoor Ice Palace March 14 3 – 7 2 Scoring summary Period Team Goal Assist(s) Time Score 1st UMJim HaasMacLellan 05:48 1–0 UM MINDick MeredithYackel 8:39 1–1 MINDick DoughertyCampbell 11:34 2–1 MIN 2nd UMDoug PhilpottShave 26:15 2–2 UMDoug MullenChin and Cooney 31:08 3–2 UM 3rd UMJohn Matchefts – GW PPunassisted 43:38 4–2 UM UMJim Haasunassisted 47:17 5–2 UM UMDoug Philpott – PPHaas 49:14 6–2 UM MINKen YackelJohnson and Dougherty 50:42 6–3 UM UMJohn Matchefts – ENPhilpott 59:49 7–3 UM Shots by period Team 1 2 3 T Michigan 14 11 9 34 Minnesota 12 10 6 28 Goaltenders Team Name Saves Goals against Time on ice UM Willard Ikola 25 3 MIN Jim Mattson 28 6 See also 1953 NCAA Division I Men's Ice Hockey Tournament List of NCAA Division I Men's Ice Hockey Tournament champions References Category:Michigan Wolverines men's ice hockey seasons Michigan Michigan Michigan Michigan