List of WCHA Men's Ice Hockey Tournament champions

The Western Collegiate Hockey Association (WCHA) is the oldest active NCAA Division I ice hockey-only conference beginning in 1959–60, and based in Denver, Colorado. At the conclusion of each regular season, it holds the WCHA Men's Ice Hockey Tournament to determine its conference champion(s), which it has done since the foundation of the conference.

The Dee Stadium was one of two buildings to host a championship game in the tournament's inaugural season.
The Xcel Energy Center hosted the WCHA tournament final from 2001 to 2013.

The tournament has had many variations over the course of its history, starting with four teams and naming two regional champions. The modern format of the tournament, where only one champion was crowned, wasn't codified until 1981–82 after four teams left to join the CCHA and the NCAA began to offer automatic bids to the National tournament rather than inviting finals participants.

Denver has won the most WCHA championships with 15.[1] Murray Armstrong has won the most titles (10), all with Denver, and appeared in the second most title games. John MacInnes has appeared in the most title games (15) and won the second most, all with Michigan Tech. These numbers are, however, misleading as the WCHA had named two tournament champions for most of its first 22 years rather than offering a game(s) to decide a single champion, the era that both Armstrong and MacInnes coached in. Had this policy continued unabated Doug Woog would be tied with Armstrong for most titles as well as winning 5 consecutive (1990–1994) and appearing in 12 consecutive finals (1986–1997).

Champions[2]

Year Winning team Coach Losing team Coach Score Location Venue Reference
1960Michigan Tech
Denver
John MacInnes
Murray Armstrong
North Dakota
Colorado College
Barry Thorndycraft
Tony Frasca
9–7*
12–3*
Houghton, Michigan
Denver, Colorado
Dee Stadium
DU Arena
1961Minnesota
Denver
John Mariucci
Murray Armstrong
Michigan
Michigan Tech
Al Renfrew
John MacInnes
6–4*
17–3*
Minneapolis, Minnesota
Denver, Colorado
Williams Arena
DU Arena
1962Michigan TechJohn MacInnesMichiganAl Renfrew6–4Ann Arbor, MichiganWeinberg Coliseum
1963DenverMurray ArmstrongNorth DakotaBarry Thorndycraft5–4 (OT)Denver, ColoradoDU Arena
1964DenverMurray ArmstrongMichiganAl Renfrew6–2Ann Arbor, MichiganWeinberg Coliseum
1965Michigan TechJohn MacInnesNorth DakotaBob Peters6–4Grand Forks, North DakotaWinter Sports Building
1966Michigan State
Denver
Amo Bessone
Murray Armstrong
Michigan Tech
North Dakota
John MacInnes
Bob Peters
4–3
5–4 (OT)
Houghton, Michigan
Denver, Colorado
Dee Stadium
DU Arena
1967Michigan State
North Dakota
Amo Bessone
Bill Selman
Michigan Tech
Denver
John MacInnes
Murray Armstrong
2–1 (OT)
3–2
Houghton, Michigan
Denver, Colorado
Dee Stadium
DU Arena
1968North Dakota
Denver
Bill Selman
Murray Armstrong
Michigan Tech
Minnesota
John MacInnes
Glen Sonmor
3–2*
16–3*
Houghton, Michigan
Denver, Colorado
Dee Stadium
DU Arena
1969Michigan Tech
Denver
John MacInnes
Murray Armstrong
Michigan
Colorado College
Al Renfrew
John Matchefts
7–4
3–1
Ann Arbor, Michigan
Denver, Colorado
Weinberg Coliseum
DU Arena
1970Michigan Tech
Wisconsin
John MacInnes
Bob Johnson
Minnesota
Denver
Glen Sonmor
Murray Armstrong
6–5
3–2
Duluth, Minnesota
Denver, Colorado
Duluth Arena Auditorium
DU Arena
1971Minnesota
Denver
Glen Sonmor
Murray Armstrong
North Dakota
Minnesota-Duluth
Rube Bjorkman
Terry Shercliffe
5–2
9–3
Madison, Wisconsin
Denver, Colorado
Dane County Coliseum
DU Arena
1972Wisconsin
Denver
Bob Johnson
Murray Armstrong
North Dakota
Michigan State
Rube Bjorkman
Amo Bessone
6–2*
11–4*
Madison, Wisconsin
Denver, Colorado
Dane County Coliseum
DU Arena
1973Wisconsin
Denver
Bob Johnson
Murray Armstrong
Notre Dame
Michigan Tech
Lefty Smith
John MacInnes
8–7*
7–3*
Notre Dame, Indiana
Denver, Colorado
Edmund P. Joyce Center
DU Arena
1974Michigan Tech
Minnesota
John MacInnes
Herb Brooks
Michigan State
Denver
Amo Bessone
Murray Armstrong
12–10*
5–4*
Houghton, Michigan
Minneapolis, Minnesota
Student Ice Arena
Williams Arena
1975Michigan Tech
Minnesota
John MacInnes
Herb Brooks
Michigan State
Michigan
Amo Bessone
Dan Farrell
15–8*
8–5*
Houghton, Michigan
Minneapolis, Minnesota
Student Ice Arena
Williams Arena
1976Minnesota
Michigan Tech
Herb Brooks
John MacInnes
Michigan State
Michigan
Amo Bessone
Dan Farrell
9–9*
10–7*
East Lansing, Michigan
Houghton, Michigan
Munn Ice Arena
Student Ice Arena
1977WisconsinBob JohnsonMichiganDan Farrell9–4*Madison, WisconsinDane County Coliseum
1978Wisconsin
Colorado College
Bob Johnson
Jeff Sauer
Michigan Tech
Denver
John MacInnes
Marshall Johnston
11–7*
9–7*
Madison, Wisconsin
Denver, Colorado
Dane County Coliseum
DU Arena
1979Minnesota
North Dakota
Herb Brooks
John Gasparini
Minnesota-Duluth
Wisconsin
Gus Hendrickson
Bob Johnson
8–4*
11–9*
Minneapolis, Minnesota
Grand Forks, North Dakota
Williams Arena
Ralph Engelstad Arena
1980Minnesota
North Dakota
Brad Buetow
John Gasparini
Colorado College
Notre Dame
Jeff Sauer
Lefty Smith
13–4*
17–8*
Minneapolis, Minnesota
Grand Forks, North Dakota
Williams Arena
Ralph Engelstad Arena
1981Michigan Tech
Minnesota
John MacInnes
Brad Buetow
Colorado College
Michigan
Jeff Sauer
John Giordano
13–4*
17–8*
Houghton, Michigan
Minneapolis, Minnesota
Student Ice Arena
Williams Arena
1982WisconsinBob JohnsonNorth DakotaJohn Gasparini12–1*Grand Forks, North DakotaRalph Engelstad Arena
1983WisconsinJeff SauerMinnesotaBrad Buetow8–3*Minneapolis, MinnesotaWilliams Arena
1984Minnesota-DuluthMike SertichNorth DakotaJohn Gasparini12–6*Minneapolis, MinnesotaWilliams Arena
1985Minnesota-DuluthMike SertichMinnesotaBrad Buetow10–8*Duluth, MinnesotaDuluth Arena Auditorium
1986DenverRalph BackstromMinnesotaDoug Woog6–2*Denver, ColoradoDU Arena
1987North DakotaJohn GaspariniMinnesotaDoug Woog10–6*Grand Forks, North DakotaRalph Engelstad Arena
1988WisconsinJeff SauerMinnesotaDoug Woog3–2St. Paul, MinnesotaCivic Center
1989Northern MichiganRick ComleyDenverRalph Backstrom9–4St. Paul, MinnesotaCivic Center
1990WisconsinJeff SauerMinnesotaDoug Woog7–1St. Paul, MinnesotaCivic Center
1991Northern MichiganRick ComleyMinnesotaDoug Woog4–2St. Paul, MinnesotaCivic Center
1992Northern MichiganRick ComleyMinnesotaDoug Woog4–2St. Paul, MinnesotaCivic Center
1993MinnesotaDoug WoogNorthern MichiganRick Comley5–3St. Paul, MinnesotaCivic Center
1994MinnesotaDoug WoogSt. Cloud StateCraig Dahl3–2 (OT)Milwaukee, WisconsinBradley Center
1995WisconsinJeff SauerColorado CollegeDon Lucia4–3 (OT)St. Paul, MinnesotaCivic Center
1996MinnesotaDoug WoogMichigan TechBob Mancini7–2Milwaukee, WisconsinBradley Center
1997North DakotaDean BlaisMinnesotaDoug Woog4–3 (OT)St. Paul, MinnesotaCivic Center
1998WisconsinJeff SauerNorth DakotaDean Blais3–2Milwaukee, WisconsinBradley Center
1999DenverGeorge GwozdeckyNorth DakotaDean Blais4–3MinneapolisTarget Center
2000North DakotaDean BlaisWisconsinJeff Sauer5–3Minneapolis, MinnesotaTarget Center
2001St. Cloud StateCraig DahlNorth DakotaDean Blais6–5 (OT)St. Paul, MinnesotaXcel Energy Center
2002DenverGeorge GwozdeckyMinnesotaDon Lucia5–2St. Paul, MinnesotaXcel Energy Center
2003MinnesotaDon LuciaColorado CollegeScott Owens4–2St. Paul, MinnesotaXcel Energy Center
2004MinnesotaDon LuciaNorth DakotaDean Blais5–4St. Paul, MinnesotaXcel Energy Center
2005DenverGeorge GwozdeckyColorado CollegeScott Owens1–0St. Paul, MinnesotaXcel Energy Center
2006North DakotaDave HakstolSt. Cloud StateBob Motzko5–3St. Paul, MinnesotaXcel Energy Center
2007MinnesotaDon LuciaNorth DakotaDave Hakstol3–2 (OT)St. Paul, MinnesotaXcel Energy Center
2008DenverGeorge GwozdeckyMinnesotaDon Lucia2–1St. Paul, MinnesotaXcel Energy Center
2009Minnesota-DuluthScott SandelinDenverGeorge Gwozdecky4–0St. Paul, MinnesotaXcel Energy Center
2010North DakotaDave HakstolSt. Cloud StateBob Motzko5–3St. Paul, MinnesotaXcel Energy Center
2011North DakotaDave HakstolDenverGeorge Gwozdecky3–2 (2OT)St. Paul, MinnesotaXcel Energy Center
2012North DakotaDave HakstolDenverGeorge Gwozdecky4–0St. Paul, MinnesotaXcel Energy Center
2013WisconsinMike EavesColorado CollegeScott Owens3–2St. Paul, MinnesotaXcel Energy Center
2014Minnesota StateMike HastingsFerris StateBob Daniels4–1Grand Rapids, MichiganVan Andel Arena
2015Minnesota StateMike HastingsMichigan TechMel Pearson5–2St. Paul, MinnesotaXcel Energy Center[3]
2016Ferris StateBob DanielsMinnesota StateMike Hastings2–1Grand Rapids, MichiganVan Andel Arena
2017Michigan TechMel PearsonBowling GreenChris Bergeron3-2 (2OT)Houghton, MichiganMacInnes Student Ice Arena
2018Michigan TechJoe ShawhanNorthern MichiganGrant Potulny2–0Marquette, MichiganBerry Events Center
2019Minnesota StateMike HastingsBowling GreenChris Bergeron3–2 (OT)Mankato, MinnesotaMankato Civic Center
2020Cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic[4]

† East regional champion
‡ West regional champion
* Champion decided by a total goal sum in multiple games

References

  1. "WCHA Yearbook 113-128" (PDF). WCHA. Retrieved 2014-05-31.
  2. "WCHA Champions". College Hockey Historical Archive. Retrieved 2014-05-31.
  3. "Saturday, March 21, 2015 Michigan Tech (MTU) vs Minnesota State (MNS)". collegehockeystats.net. Retrieved 9 November 2015.
  4. "Remainder Of WCHA Postseason Cancelled". wcha.com. March 12, 2020. Retrieved March 12, 2020.
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