Western Collegiate Hockey Association

Nov. 28, 2001

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MADISON, Wisc. - The Western Collegiate Hockey Association and Commissioner Bruce M. McLeod today (Nov. 29) announced the first group of 10 honorees in conjuction with the league's 50th anniversary promotion known as The Top 50 Players in 50 Years. The ten, in alphabetical order, are forward Lou Angotti (Michigan Tech University, 1959-62), forward Scott Beattie (Northern Michigan University, 1989-92), forward Greg Johnson (University of North Dakota, 1989-93), defenseman Keith Magnuson (University of Denver, 1967-69), forward John Matchefts (University of Michigan, 1951-53), defenseman Craig Norwich (University of Wisconsin, 1974-77), defenseman Bill Nyrop (University of Notre Dame, 1971-74), forward Doug Palazzari (Colorado College, 1970-74), forward Mark Pavelich (University of Minnesota-Duluth, 1976-79), and goaltender Robb Stauber (University of Minnesota, 1986-89).

"This has been an extremely interesting, thought-provoking and humbling experience" said McLeod. "From the initial nominations made by member schools (past and present) over the summer to the additional recommendations and the dedicated work done by our selection committee, we had a final pool of over 160 outstanding candidates to work from - all of whom were deserving of careful consideration.

"Today, we are tremendously pleased to announce this first group of 10 players. We anticipate these great names - as well as those still to come over the next four months - will stir memories and as these type of things always do, create discussion. That's all part of it." All 10 athletes released today earned All-American First Team and All-WCHA First Team honors during their collegiate playing careers, and the group also includes four WCHA Most Valuable Player honorees, six members of the AHCA's (American Hockey Coaches Associa- tion) All-Time West Team (1997), eight who went on to play in the National Hockey League, three Olympians, three U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame members, six U.S. National Team members, three members of the NCAA's 50th Anniversary Team (1997), and a Hobey Baker Memorial Award winner.

The WCHA's Top 50 Players in 50 Years was developed over the summer and is part of the league's 50th anniversary season promotions that include commemorative logos, team and refereee uniform patches, in-arena banners and signage, a special edition 50th Anniversary men's yearbook, official merchandise, and video and audio clips from past and present coaches and players that will be shown throughout the 2002 WCHA Final Five at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul, Minn., next March 14-16. Yearbooks and merchandise are available through the league's web site and on-line store at www.wcha.com.

Nominations for the Top 50 Players in 50 Years were made over the summer by current and past member schools and also include recommendations from a committee that was ap- pointed by WCHA Commissioner Bruce McLeod to select the top 50 honorees. The WCHA will release 10 more selections to the Top 50 Players in 50 Years in each of the succeeding months of December, January, February and March.

Lou Angotti
Forward * Michigan Tech University * 1959-62
Undoubtedly one of the finest hockey players ever to compete at Michigan Tech University... was a three-year letterwinner (1959-62)... helped the Huskies to the 1962 NCAA Championship and the 1962 WCHA crown... wore number 15 at Michigan Tech... played in 89 games overall as a collegian and had 71 goals, 61 assists, and 132 total points... was named to AHCA's All-Time West Team in 1997... selected as a First Team All-American in 1962... WCHA co-Sophomore of the Year in 1959-60... was twice named as the NCAA Tournament's Most Valuable Player (1960, 1962)... named to NCAA 50th Anniversary Team in 1997... inducted into the Michigan Tech Hall of Fame... after leaving Michigan Tech in 1962, Angotti went on to a 10-year professional career, totalling 111-194=305 over 718 games with the New York Rangers, Chicago, Pittsburgh, Philadelphia and St. Louis... also served one-year stints as head coach of the St. Louis Blues (1973-74) and the Pittsburgh Penguins (1983-84)... native of Toronto, Ontario.

Scott Beattie
Forward * Northern Michigan University * 1989-92
First Team All-American in 1991...1991 WCHA Most Valuable Player... 1991 and 1992 Hobey Baker Memorial Award Finalist...WCHA Freshman of the Year in 1989-90... 1991 NCAA Tournament MVP and a member of the All-Tournament Team... 1990 Honorable Mention All-WCHA...1991 All-Academic WCHA... led the Wildcats for goals in a season (1990-91) with 48, which was their national championship season... had seven game-winning goals during the 1991-92 campaign, which led the team... third all-time on the NMU career list with 106 goals... fourth on the all-time NMU career list with 222 points (106g, 116a, 222 points)... seventh on the all-time NMU career list with 116 assists... ended his three-year career as one of only 15 players in WCHA history to register at least 100 goals and 100 assists in a career and became only the second player in league history to do that in three seasons... native of Kimberley, British Columbia.

Greg Johnson
Forward * University of North Dakota * 1989-93
Three-time All-American (1991, 1992, 1993)... three-time Hobey Baker Memorial Award Finalist (1991, 1992, 1993)... three-time All-WCHA First Team (1991, 1992, 1993)... named to AHCA's All-Time West Team in 1997... WCHA's all-time leader in career overall assists (198)... tied for 1st in conference career assists (151)... tied for 5th on WCHA's career conference points list (206 )... ranks 6th on WCHA's all-time points list (272)... UND's all-time leader in career points (272) and assists (198)... team captain in 1992 and 1993... played parts of two seasons with the Canadian National Team... currently plays for NHL's Nashville Predators and has over 550 games played and 275 points... 2001-02 marks his 9th NHL season... has also played for Detroit, Pittsburgh and Chicago... helped lead Canada to a silver medal at the 1994 Winter Olympic Games... was drafted by Philadelphia in second round of 1989 NHL entry draft... native of Thunder Bay, Ontario.

Keith Magnuson
Defenseman * University of Denver * 1966-69
Two-time All-American (1968, 1969)... three-time All-WCHA First Team (1967, 1968, 1969)... WCHA Rookie of the Year in 1967... WCHA Most Valuable Player in 1968... led the Pioneers to back-to-back national championships in 1968 and 1969, the latter while serving as Denver's captain... named to the NCAA All-Tournament team in both seasons and was NCAA Tournament MVP in 1969... scored 16-59=75 in 96 career games... ranks 8th all-time in career assists by a defenseman ... named to the Hockey News' 50th Anniversary All-Time WCHA First Team... named to the AHCA's All-Time West Team and to the NCAA 50th Anniversary Team in 1997... played in every game during his three-year collegiate career and helped lead DU to a 76-19-1 record... played 11 seasons in the NHL with the Chicago Blackhawks and was a four-time team captain and two-time NHL All-Star... never missed a playoff and played in the Stanley Cup Championships twice... is currently Vice President for Chain Sales for Coca-Cola and resides in Lake Forest, Ill., with his wife, Cindy... has two children - Kevin and Molly... Kevin played college hockey at Michigan and helped the Wolverines to a NCAA title... native of Saskatoon, Saskatchewan.

John Matchefts
Forward * University of Michigan * 1951-53
Named to NCAA's 50th Anniversary Team in 1997... two-time All-American (1951, 1953)... NCAA Most Outstanding Player (1953)... NCAA All-Tournament Team (1951, 1953)... inducted into U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame in 1991... named to AHCA's All-Time West Team in 1997... played with the U.S. National Team in 1955 before earning a silver medal as a member of 1956 U.S. Olympic Team... Denver Post All-Midwest Second Team (1953)... team captain in 1953... helped lead Michigan to three consecutive NCAA championships... netted two goals in 7-3 win over Minnesota to capture 1953 crown... inducted into Michigan's Dekers Blue Line Club Hall of Fame... led Michigan in scoring during the 1952-53 campaign with 18-30=48... coached Colorado College to a 48-72-2 mark over five seasons from 1966-71, earning WCHA Coach of the Year honors in 1969... served as head coach at Air Force from 1975-85, compiling a record of 154-150-6 over 11 seasons... tied with Chuck Delich for the most career coaching wins in AFA history... native of Eveleth, Minnesota.

Craig Norwich
Defenseman * University of Wisconsin * 1974-77
Wore number 5... played defense for the Badgers for three seasons (1974-77)... totalled 42-126=168 in 144 games... is the only UW blueliner to earn First Team All-America honors twice (1976, 1977)... All-WCHA First Team choice in 1977 and second team in 1976... named to AHCA's All-Time West Team in 1977... holds UW records for career goals by a defenseman (42) and is second in career assists (126) and career points (168)... holds season defense marks for assists (65) and points (83), set during the 1976-77 NCAA Championship season... is the WCHA record holder with those numbers for points (overall & league) and assists (overall & league play) by a defenseman... during the UW's 1976-77 championship season, he set the season mark for points with 18-65=83 (currently is fourth) and led that team in scoring... his 65 assists that year also set the UW record which still stands today... selected to 1977 NCAA All-Tournament team... drafted in 1975 by the NHL's Montreal Canadiens (142nd overall)... played professionally with the Winnipeg Jets (1979-80), St. Louis Blues ('80-81) and Colorado Rockies (1981)... native of Edina, Minnesota.

Bill Nyrop
Defenseman * University of Notre Dame * 1970-74
Selected First Team All-American (1972-73)... selected Second Team All-WCHA (1972-73)... member of defense that helped 1972-73 team to best-ever record in the WCHA (23-14-1 overall and 19-9-0 in league)... Notre Dame was runner-up to Wisconsin in WCHA Tournament that year... Notre Dame's Rookie of the Year (1970-71)... played in 132 games at Notre Dame with 17 goals and 72 assists for 89 points... had 83 penalties for 174 minutes... ranks 8th all-time at Notre Dame for points by a defenseman with 89... selected in 4th round of the 1972 NHL Draft by the Montreal Canadiens (66th choice overall)... inducted into the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame... member of USA's Canada Cup team in 1976 and 1981... played seven years in the NHL with Montreal and the Minnesota North Stars (1975-82)... played in 207 NHL games with 12 goals and 51 assists for 63... was a member of three Stanley Cup championship teams with Montreal (1976, 1977, 1978)... native of Edina, Minnesota.

Doug Palazzari
Forward * Colorado College * 1970-74
Two-time WCHA Most Valuable Player (1972, 1974)... two-time All-American (1972, 1974) and All-WCHA First Team (1972, 1974)... ranks third among CC's all-time scoring leaders with 228 career points (95 goals, 133 assists)... won the WCHA scoring crown as a sophomore, finishing with 72 points (32g,40a) in league play... named to Hockey News' 50th Anniversary All-WCHA Second Team... inducted into U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame... currently serves as Executive Director of USA Hockey... enjoyed an illustrious playing career in the St. Louis Blues organization, mostly with Salt Lake City of the CHL... honored as the CHL's all-time greatest player in 1997, claimed two CHL scoring titles, and was twice league MVP... played four seasons in the NHL for St. Louis and in 1974-75 was named the Blues' most popular player... skated with two U.S. National Teams, winning a silver medal in Austria in 1973 and a gold in Yugoslavia in 1974, both in pool B play... member of USA's Canada Cup team in 1976... was an assistant coach at CC from 1985-91 and served in various coaching capacities for USA Hockey in the '80s and '90s... he and his wife, Sara, have two sons - Blake (18) and Drew (12)... native of Eveleth, Minnesota.

Mark Pavelich
Forward * University of Minnesota-Duluth * 1976-79
Amassed 142 points in 110 games during his three seasons as a Bulldog... was credited with 31 goals and 48 assists for 79 points - all school single-season records at the time - in his final year (1978-79) at Minnesota-Duluth while helping lead the Bulldogs to their first-ever finish in the WCHA's upper division (3rd place)... landed All-American and All-WCHA First Team honors in 1978-79... finished 3rd in the 1978-79 WCHA scoring race (63 points in just 29 games) despite missing three games with a shoulder injury... passed up his last season of college eligibility to skate with the gold medal-winning U.S. Olympic Team in 1980... collected seven points in seven outings at the historic 1980 Winter Games in Lake Placid, NY... played parts of seven NHL seasons with the New York Rangers (1981-86), Minnesota North Stars (1986-87) and San Jose Sharks (1991-92) and three years of prof hockey in Europe (Switzerland and Ireland)... finished his 378-game NHL career with 353 points on 144 goals and 209 assists... was inducted into the UMD Athletic Hall of Fame in 1997... married to wife, Kara... native of Eveleth, Minnesota.

Robb Stauber
Goaltender * University of Minnesota * 1986-89
Was the first goaltender to win the Hobey Baker Memorial Award (1988)... named WCHA's Most Valuable Player in 1987-88... First Team All-American and All-WCHA selection in 1988... Second Team All-American and All-WCHA selection in 1989... named to AHCA's All-Time West Team in 1997... was 73-23-0 in his collegiate career with a 2.77 goals-against average and a .906 saves percentage... holds WCHA single-season record with 28 wins in 1987-88... led Minnesota to three Final Four berths and two WCHA Championships... holds the UM career record for wins (73) and ranks second in games played (98), minutes played (5,717), goals-against average (2.77) and saves percentage (.906)... set new single-season school records in 1987-88 for shutouts (5), games played (44), minutes played (2,621) and saves (1,711)... played professionally for nine seasons... played six seasons with the NHL's Los Angeles Kings and Buffalo Sabres... was drafted by Los Angeles in the sixth round of the 1986 NHL entry draft... native of Duluth, Minnesota.

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