Reunion for 1981 NCAA championship squad set for Denver weekend
November 12, 2015 | Men's Hockey
UW to commemorate 35th anniversary of the program's third NCAA title
MADISON, Wis. – The Wisconsin men's hockey team will honor the members of the 1981 NCAA Championship team with a weekend of festivities on Nov. 20-21.
That Badgers national title team from the 1980-81 season was the third in program history at that point, all of which had come under the tutelage of legendary coach Bob Johnson.
During the hockey game Saturday night, the members of the NCAA title squad will be recognized after the first period of the Badgers game against the Pioneers. There will be a special video tribute and an introduction of the team. Faceoff against Denver that night is currently scheduled for 7 p.m.
Denver was one of Wisconsin's opponents during the 1980-81 season, which saw the Badgers finish 27-14-1 overall and 17-11-0 in the WCHA under Johnson.
UW goaltender Marc Behrend, who was selected as the Most Valuable Player of the NCAA tournament, paved the way for Wisconsin with 55 total saves between the final two games. Freshman center John Newberry led the Badgers' offense with two goals and four assists, tying him for the most points in the tournament.
After Wisconsin finished second in the WCHA regular season race behind Minnesota, the Badgers ended up toppling the Golden Gophers, 6-3 in the national title game (box score | Â recap), to win the school's third championship. Wisconsin had knocked off Northern Michigan, 5-1, a day before to advance to the title tilt.
That 1981 championship team has several current connections to the Wisconsin hockey program. Forward Ken Keryluk is the father of current UW freshman forward Zac Keryluk. Lexi Doner is the father of current UW women's hockey forward Molly Doner, while Peter Johnson is the son of Bob Johnson and brother of current UW women's hockey head coach Mark Johnson.
Some of the other Badgers on the 1981 championship squad include Brian Mullen, Bruce Driver, Theran Welsh, Ed Lebler, John Newberry, Scott Lecy, Ron Vincent and many others (roster).
Wisconsin will also celebrate the reunion of the 2005-06 national championship team on the weekend of Jan. 30.
Tickets for the Nov. 21 game against Denver can be found here. Â
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That Badgers national title team from the 1980-81 season was the third in program history at that point, all of which had come under the tutelage of legendary coach Bob Johnson.
During the hockey game Saturday night, the members of the NCAA title squad will be recognized after the first period of the Badgers game against the Pioneers. There will be a special video tribute and an introduction of the team. Faceoff against Denver that night is currently scheduled for 7 p.m.
Denver was one of Wisconsin's opponents during the 1980-81 season, which saw the Badgers finish 27-14-1 overall and 17-11-0 in the WCHA under Johnson.
UW goaltender Marc Behrend, who was selected as the Most Valuable Player of the NCAA tournament, paved the way for Wisconsin with 55 total saves between the final two games. Freshman center John Newberry led the Badgers' offense with two goals and four assists, tying him for the most points in the tournament.
After Wisconsin finished second in the WCHA regular season race behind Minnesota, the Badgers ended up toppling the Golden Gophers, 6-3 in the national title game (box score | Â recap), to win the school's third championship. Wisconsin had knocked off Northern Michigan, 5-1, a day before to advance to the title tilt.
That 1981 championship team has several current connections to the Wisconsin hockey program. Forward Ken Keryluk is the father of current UW freshman forward Zac Keryluk. Lexi Doner is the father of current UW women's hockey forward Molly Doner, while Peter Johnson is the son of Bob Johnson and brother of current UW women's hockey head coach Mark Johnson.
Some of the other Badgers on the 1981 championship squad include Brian Mullen, Bruce Driver, Theran Welsh, Ed Lebler, John Newberry, Scott Lecy, Ron Vincent and many others (roster).
Wisconsin will also celebrate the reunion of the 2005-06 national championship team on the weekend of Jan. 30.
Tickets for the Nov. 21 game against Denver can be found here. Â
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Players Mentioned
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