WCHA's Top 50 Players In 50 Years
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Dec. 20, 2001
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MADISON, Wisc. - The Western Collegiate Hockey Association and Commissioner Bruce M. McLeod today (Dec. 20) announced the second group of 10 honorees in conjuction with the league's 50th anniversary promotion - The Top 50 Players in 50 Years. In alphabetical order, they are: Red Berenson (F, University of Michigan, 1959-62), Tony Esposito (G, Michigan Tech University, 1964-67), Bret Hedican (D, St. Cloud State University, 1988-91), Brett Hull (F, University of Minnesota-Duluth, 1984-86), Mark Johnson (F, University of Wisconsin, 1976-79), George Konik (D, University of Denver, 1958-61), Reg Morelli (F, University of North Dakota, 1957-60), Lou Nanne (D, University of Minnesota, 1959-63), Tom Ross (F, Michigan State University, 1972-76), and Brian Swanson (F, Colorado College, 1995-99).
"This is another truly outstanding group of players," said Commissioner McLeod. "We have names covering all six decades of WCHA history and every single one of them is more than deserving of this honor.
"One could take just the first 20 honorees (released Nov. 29 and today) of the Top 50 Players and come up with an all-time team that would certainly rank among the best ever in college hockey," added McLeod. "I can't wait for the next 10, and so on each month until we hit all 50 in March."
All 10 of the players released today earned All-WCHA acclaim and eight were All-Americans during their collegiate careers. The group also includes four WCHA Most Valuable Players, six members of the AHCA's (American Hockey Coaches Association) All-Time West Team (selected in 1997), three WCHA Rookies of the Year, the WCHA's all-time leading scorer, eight who went on to play in the National Hockey League, three Stanley Cup winners, four Olympians, a Hockey Hall of Fame member, six U.S. National Team members, two members of the NCAA's 50th Anniversary Team (1997), and two Hobey Baker Memorial Award finalists.
The WCHA's Top 50 Players in 50 Years is part of the league's 50th anniversary season promotions that include commemorative logos, team and referee 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., March 14-16. Final Five tickets are on sale and are available by phoning Ticketmaster at 651 989-5151 651 989-5151 651 989-5151 651 989-5151 651 989-5151 or visiting www.ticketmaster.com. 50th Anniversary WCHA Yearbooks and merchandise, as well as a link to Ticketmaster for Final Five tickets, are available through the league's 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 appointed by WCHA Commissioner Bruce McLeod to select the top 50 honorees. The initial group of honorees (released Nov. 29) were: Lou Angotti (F, Michigan Tech, 1959-62), Scott Beattie (F, Northern Michigan, 1989-92), Greg Johnson (F, North Dakota, 1989-93), Keith Magnuson (D, Denver, 1967-69), John Matchefts (F, Michigan, 1951-53), Craig Norwich (D, Wisconsin, 1974-77), Bill Nyrop (D, Notre Dame, 1971-74), Doug Palazzari (F, Colorado College, 1970-74), Mark Pavelich (F, Minnesota-Duluth, 1976-79), and Robb Stauber (G, Minnesota, 1986-89).
The WCHA will release 10 more selections to the Top 50 Players in 50 Years in the succeeding months of January, February and March.
Red Berenson
Forward * University of Michigan * 1959-62
WCHA Most Valuable Player in 1962... two-time All-American (1961, '62)... named to AHCA's All-Time West Team in 1997... two-time Denver Post All-WCHA First Team choice (1961, '62)...named to NCAA All-Tournament Team in 1962... two-time Michigan MVP (1961, '62)... team captain in 1962... holds UM record for goals in a season with 43, set during his senior year ('61-62) when he led the team with 43-27=70... recorded 78-59=137 in 68 games during his three-year career... posted a school-record nine hat tricks in '61-62, and is tied for the UM career record with 10... scored five goals vs Colorado College on 2/8/62... named to NCAA's 50th Anniversary Team in 1997... was the first college hockey player to enter the National Hockey League, where he spent 18 seasons (1962-78) with four teams (Montreal, NY Rangers, St. Louis, Detroit)... won a Stanley Cup with Montreal in 1965... tallied 261-397=658 points in 987 NHL games... scored six goals, including four in 9:00, vs the Philadelphia Flyers on Nov. 7, 1968, a feat that has been accomplished only once since... owns NHL records for most goals in a road game and most goals in a period (4)... played for Team Canada in the original Canada Cup series between
Canada and Russia in 1972... was head coach of the St. Louis Blues from 1979-82, earning the Jack Adams Award as the NHL's Coach
of the Year in 1981... is in his 18th season as head coach of his alma mater and has guided Michigan to the last 11 NCAA Tournaments,
the longest active streak in the NCAA... coached Wolverines to the NCAA Championship in 1996 and 1998 in addition to seven
Frozen Four appearances... led UM to a nine straight Great Lakes
Invitational titles (1988-94)... 15th on college hockey's all-time win
list... member of UM's Hall of Honor (1983), Michigan Sports Hall
of Fame (1996) and Saskatchewan Sports Hall of Fame (2000)... he
and his wife, Joy, have four children - daughters Kelly and Sandy,
and sons Gordie and Rusty... native of Regina, Saskatchewan.
Tony Esposito
Goaltender * Michigan Tech University * 1964-67
Perhaps the most recognizable name connected with Michigan
Tech University athletics is former goaltender Tony Esposito... member of the Hockey Hall of Fame... honored as WCHA's All-Time Best Goaltender and as All-Time All-WCHA First Team
goaltender in 50th anniversary issue of The Hockey News in
October, 1997... three-year hockey letterwinner... three-time All-America First team selection in 1965, 1966 and 1967... named to
AHCA's All-Time West Team in 1997... ranks second all-time in
WCHA with 2.15 career goals-against average and is first in caraeer
saves percentage at .926... also earned All-WCHA First Team
honors three times (1965, '66, '67)... was a driving force in helping
the Huskies to the 1965 NCAA Hockey Championship and was
named to the NCAA All-Tournament First Team... is still currently
the Michigan Tech career leader in goals-against average (2.55) and
ranks second all-time in career saves percentage (.912)... two-time
winner of WCHA goaltending crown with a 2.00 goals-against
average in 1964-65 and a 2.00 mark in 1965-66... his post-Michigan
Tech career includes a 17-year National Hockey League playing
career and a two-year stint as general manager of the Pittsburgh
Penguins (1988-90)... played in 985 NHL games between 1968-84,
with a record of 468-360-151, a 2.94 goals-against average, and 82
career shutouts... member of Montreal Canadien's Stanley Cup
championship team in 1969... named to NHL All-Star Team in
1964, '65, '66, '72 and '80... played in the 1981 Canada Cup.
Bret Hedican
Defenseman * St. Cloud State University * 1988-91
Currently in his 11th season in the NHL and fourth with the Florida
Panthers... also played for St. Louis (1991-94) and Vancouver
(1994-99)... had 33 goals, 147 assists and 180 points (thru Dec. 4)... recognized as one of the best skating defensemen in the NHL... member of the 1992 U.S. Olympic Hockey Team... member of the
U.S. National Team in 1997, '99 and 2001... drafted by the St. Louis
Blues in 1988 as the 198th pick in the 10th round... played college
hockey at St. Cloud State from 1988-91 and had 27 goals, 50 assists
and 77 points... ranks 24th among SCSU's Div. I skaters for most
career points... still owns SCSU records for most goals in a season
by a defenseman with 18 in '90-91, most points by a defenseman
with 48 in '90-91, most goals in a game by a defenseman with three
vs Wisconsin on 2/15/91, most assists in a game by a defender with
five vs Guelph on 1/5/91, and most points in a game with six vs
Guelph... was the first player in SCSU history to gain All-WCHA
honors in 1990-91 and the first to be named to the All-WCHA squad
as a first team selection... earned WCHA All-Academic honors in
'90-91... graduate of N. St. Paul HS, where he lettered in hockey,
golf, soccer and football...participated in 1990 U.S. Olympic Festival for Team North... majored in physical therapy at SCSU...
married to figure skater and 1992 gold medalist Kristi Yamaguchi.
Brett Hull
Forward * University of Minnesota-Duluth* 1984-86
Starred for two years with the Bulldogs (1984-86) before foregoing
his final two seasons to join the National Hcokey League's Calgary
Flames... was the WCHA Freshman of the Year in 1984-85 (after
leading all newcomers in scoring) and was an All-WCHA First Team
pick and Hobey Baker Memorial Award finalist the following
season... established Bulldog single-season records - which still
stand - for goals (52), hat tricks (7), and PPGs (20) as a sophomore
as well as marks for career hat tricks (10) and goals in one season
by a rookie (32)... those 52 goals were an NCAA high in '85-86... held UMD's best goals per game average (0.93) when he departed... scored 84 goals and 60 assists for 144 points in 90 collegiate
games... named to ACHA's All-Time West Team in 1997... joined
the Calgary Flames organization (6th round draftee in 1984) for the
1985 NHL playoffs and remained with that club until being traded
to St. Louis in March, 1988... captained the Blues for three-plus
seasons (1992-95)... won the Hart Memorial Trophy as the NHL's
MVP in 1991-92... has played in eight NHL All-Star games... paced
the league in goals with 72, a league single-season record for right
wings that winter... was MVP of the 1992 NHL All-Star Game... finished first among Blues in goals and/or points in 10 straight
seasons... signed with Dallas on July 3, 1998... scored the series-clinching goal in OT against the Buffalo Sabres in the 1999 Stanley
Cup finals ... scored a team-high 49 goals in his final year with the
Stars (2000-01)... joined the Detroit Red Wings this past summer... entered the 2001-02 season (his 16th in the NHL) with 649 goals,
534 assists, and 1,183 points in 1,019 regular season games... is 8th
on the NHL's all-time goal scoring list (third among active players)... played with USA in 1991 Canada Cup and 1996 World Cup of
Hockey where he won a Gold Medal... skated for the USA at the
1998 Winter Olympics and is a member of the 2002 squad as well
... inducted into UMD Athletic Hall of Fame in 1997... native of
West Vancouver, BC... makes his off-season home in Duluth.
Mark Johnson
Forward * University of Wisconsin * 1976-79
In just three years (125 career games) at the University of Wisconsin, Johnson scored 125 goals, 131 assists and 256 points, averaging
a goal a game and 2.05 points per game... is the only player in UW
history to average more than 2.00 points-per-game over his career... was an All-WCHA First Team honoree in both 1977-78 and '78-79
and was the WCHA's Most Valuable Player in 1978-79... two-time
first team All-American (1978, 1979) - one of just two UW forwards
to earn that honor twice... named to All-Time All-WCHA First Team
in 50th anniversary issue of The Hockey News in October, 1997... stills holds UW records for goals in a season (48) and career (125),
points in a season (90), power-play goals in a season (17) and career
(47), and game-winning goals in a career (20)... led UW in goals
scored all three years, tallying 36 as a freshman, 48 as a sophomore
and 41 as a junior... named WCHA Rookie of the Year in 1976-77... named to AHCA's All-Time West Team in 1997... 1980 U.S.
Olympic Hockey Team member, leading the Gold-medal winning
club in scoring with 5-6=11... played for U.S. National Team in
1978, '79, '81, '82, '85, '86, '87, '90 and was an assistant coach for
USA in 2000... played for USA in the Canada Cup in 1981, '84 and
'87... enjoyed an 11-year career in the National Hockey League,
playing for Pittsburgh (1979-82), Minnesota (1982), Hartford ('82-85), St. Louis (1985) and New Jersey ('85-90)... saw action in 706
NHL contests and scored 219-317=536... wore No. 10 ... his father,
Bob, won three national titles as head coach at Wisconsin (1973,
'77, '81) and also coached the Pittsburgh Penguins to Stanley Cup
Championships in both 1991 and '92... his brother, Peter, also
played at UW and had 82-77=159 in 153 games... Mark and his
wife, Leslie, live in Madison with sons Doug (17), Chris (16) and
Patrick (13) and daughters Mikayla (7) and Megan (5).
George Konik
Defenseman * University of Denver * 1958-61
Earned three letters in his playing days at University of Denver from
1958 to 1961... helped lead the Pioneers to back-to-back National
Championships in 1960 and 1961... posted 116 points in just 89
games on 46 goals and 70 assists... ranks tied for 49th all-time at
Denver in scoring... second all-time in points by a defenseman
(116), fourth in assists by a defenseman (70) and ranks No. 1 all-time in goals by a defenseman (46)... posted 21 goals in 1958-59, the
most ever at Denver by a defenseman... led a DU defense that
yielded just 1.84 goals-against in 1960-61 and led a Pioneers
defense that averaged giving up less than 2.5 goals per game during
his three-year career... earned All-American honors in 1960...
named to the NCAA 50th Anniversary team... first team All-WCHA/
WHL in 1961, second team in 1960... played in the National
Hockey League for Pittsburgh following his collegiate career at DU.
Reg Morelli
Forward * University of North Dakota * 1957-60
Earned First Team All-American honors in 1960... named by panel
of coaches, players, athletic directors and media to the American
Hockey Coaches' Association All-Time West Team in 1997... named
to All-WCHA First Team in 1960... was honored as NCAA
Tournament's Most Outstanding Player in 1959... scored an overtime goal against Michigan State in the 1959 NCAA Hockey
Championship game to clinch the University of North Dakota's first
national title... still ranks 36th on North Dakota's all-time points list
with 132 scoring points in just 85 career games played... led the
Fighting Sioux in three offensive categories in 1960 - goals (34),
assists (31) and points (65)... native of Hamilton, Ontario.
Lou Nanne
Defenseman * University of Minnesota * 1959-63
Was a four-year letterwinner for the University of Minnesota Golden
Gophers from 1959-63... named All-American and WCHA Most
Valuable Player in 1963... named to American Hockey Coaches'
Association All-Time West Team in 1997... honored as All-Time All-WCHA Second Team defenseman in 50th anniversary issue of The
Hockey News in October, 1997... finished his collegiate career with
22 goals and 52 assists for 74 points... served as UM team captain... was first-ever blueliner to lead the WCHA in scoring in 1962-63,
producing nine goals, 23 assists and 32 points... served as captain
of the 1968 U.S. Olympic Hockey Team... member of U.S. National
Team in 1976 and 1977... played for USA in 1976 Canada Cup...was General Manager of Team USA for four years... inducted into
the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame... played for the Minnesota North
Stars in the National Hockey League for 11 years from 1967-78... played in 667 NHL games and produced 72 goals, 167 assists and
239 points... was head coach of the Minnesota North Stars in 1978,
served as General Manager from 1978-88, and was team president
from 1988-90... recipient of the Lester Patrick Award for outstanding service to hockey in the United States in 1989... native of Sault
St. Marie, Ontario.
Tom Ross
Forward * Michigan State University * 1972-76
Member of American Hockey Coaches' Association All-Time West
Team, named in 1997... two-time All-American (1975 & 1976)... shared WCHA Most Valuable Player honors with Minnesota's Mike
Polich in 1975... named to Denver Post All-WCHA First Team in
both 1975 and 1976... All-WCHA Second Team selection in 1974... MSU's team MVP as both a junior and senior... leading scorer in
NCAA Div. I history with 324 points... finished four-year career with
138 goals and 186 assists...WCHA's leading point-getter in league
games in both 1974-75 (32-48=80) and 1975-76 (41-42=83)...WCHA's all-time leader in goals and points... MSU's all-time leader
in goals, assists, points and PPGs... scored 105 points during '75-76
campaign, a Spartan single-season high... tallied 97 points as a
junior and 88 as a sophomore... registered 51 goals during senior
season, second-best total in MSU history... had 59 assists as a junior
and 54 as a senior... owns school record for PPGs in a season with
29 in '75-76...scored a point in 78 consecutive games from Dec. 19,
1973 - Dec. 6, 1975... shares team record with five goals in a game
vs Notre Dame on 11/10/73... played for the 1975 U.S. National
Team at the IIHF World Championships... honored with MSU
hockey's Distinguished Alumnus Award in 1996... born 1/17/54 in
Detroit, Mich.... resides in Livonia, Mich., with wife, Nancy, and
their three children - Kelly, Brian and Thomas.
Brian Swanson
Forward * Colorado College * 1995-99
Was a two-time All-American (First Team in 1998-99, Second Team
in '97-98)... earned All-WCHA honors all four seasons while at
Colorado College and was an All-WCHA First Team honoree his
final three years... was a two-time Hobey Baker Memorial Award
finalist and WCHA scoring co-champion... ranks second on CC's all-time scoring list with 232 career points on 88 goals and 144 assists...honored as WCHA Rookie of the Year in 1995-96... was a finalist
for the Hockey Humanitarian Award as a senior... voted Colorado
College's most valuable player three times after leading the Tigers
in scoring for three consecutive seasons (1996-99)... had a hand in
35 career game-winning goals for CC, scoring 13 and assisting on 22
others... collected three-or-more points in a game on 29 occasions... scored twice or more in a game 17 times... member of first-ever
WCHA All-Star Team that played in the Kolin Cup in Switzerland
in August, 1998... made his National Hockey League debut with the
Edmonton Oilers in 2000-01... skated for Team USA at the 1996
IIHF World Junior Championships in Boston, Mass.... native of
Eagle River, Alaska.
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