1996 NCAA Division I men's ice hockey tournament

The 1996 NCAA Division I men's ice hockey tournament involved 12 schools playing in single-elimination tournament to determine the national champion of men's National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I college ice hockey. It began on March 22, 1996, and ended with the championship game on March 30. A total of 11 games were played. The top two seeds in each region received a bye into the tournament quarterfinals.

1996 NCAA Division I men's
ice hockey tournament

Teams	12
Finals site	Riverfront Coliseum, Cincinnati, Ohio
Champions	Michigan Wolverines (8th title)
Runner-up	Colorado College Tigers (5th title game)
Semifinalists	Boston University Terriers (19th Frozen Four) Vermont Catamounts (1st Frozen Four)
Winning coach	Red Berenson (1st title)
MOP	Brendan Morrison (Michigan)
Attendance	65,778

In the regional semifinals, Michigan's Mike Legg scored a high wraparound goal that, in the U.S., is now known as a Michigan goal.

The University of Michigan, coached by Red Berenson, won the national championship with a 3–2 victory over Colorado College in overtime in front of 12,957 fans.

Qualifying teams

The at-large bids and seeding for each team in the tournament were announced after the conference tournaments concluded. The Central Collegiate Hockey Association (CCHA) had four teams receive a berth in the tournament, the ECAC and Hockey East each had three teams receive a berth in the tournament, while the Western Collegiate Hockey Association (WCHA) had two berths.

East Regional – Albany							West Regional – East Lansing
Seed	School	Conference	Record	Berth type	Appearance	Last bid	Seed	School	Conference	Record	Berth type	Appearance	Last bid
1	Boston University	Hockey East	29–6–3	At-large bid	22nd	1995	1	Colorado College	WCHA	31–4–4	At-large bid	10th	1995
2	Vermont	ECAC	26–6–4	At-large bid	2nd	1988	2	Michigan	CCHA	30–7–2	Tournament champion	19th	1995
3	Lake Superior State	CCHA	29–7–2	At-large bid	10th	1995	3	Minnesota	WCHA	29–9–2	Tournament champion	23rd	1995
4	Western Michigan	CCHA	27–10–3	At-large bid	3rd	1994	4	Massachusetts-Lowell	Hockey East	25–9–4	At-large bid	3rd	1994
5	Clarkson	ECAC	24–9–3	At-large bid	15th	1995	5	Michigan State	CCHA	28–12–1	At-large bid	16th	1995
6	Providence	Hockey East	21–14–3	Tournament champion	8th	1991	6	Cornell	ECAC	21–8–4	Tournament champion	11th	1991

Game locations

• East Regional – Knickerbocker Arena, Albany, NY
• West Regional – Munn Ice Arena, East Lansing, MI
• Frozen Four – Riverfront Coliseum, Cincinnati, OH

Bracket

First Round March 22–23

Quarterfinals March 23–24

National Semifinals March 28

National Championship March 30

E1

Boston University

3

E4

Western Michigan

1

E5

Clarkson

2

E5

Clarkson

6

E1

Boston University

0

W2

Michigan

4

W2

Michigan

4

W3

Minnesota

5

W3

Minnesota

3

W6

Providence

1

W2

Michigan

3*

W1

Colorado College

2

E2

Vermont

2

E3

Lake Superior State

5

E3

Lake Superior State

1

E6

Cornell

4

E2

Vermont

3

W1

Colorado College

4**

W1

Colorado College

5

W4

Massachusetts-Lowell

6

W4

Massachusetts-Lowell

3

W5

Michigan State

2

Note: * denotes overtime period(s)

Results

East Regional – Albany, New York

First Round

March 22, 1996 5:00 pm

(3) Lake Superior State

5–4 (2–1, 2–3, 1–0)

(6) Cornell

Knickerbocker Arena

Game reference
	John Grahame	Goalies	Jason Elliott	Referees: John Seidel Robin Anderson Linesman: Jon Campion
	(Lambeth, Matteucci) Jason Sessa – 01:49 1 – 0 1 – 1 06:36 – PP – P. C. Drouin (S. Wilson, Knopp) (Trzcinski, Matteucci) Brian Felsner – 07:00 2 – 1 (Lane, Pulente) Darcy George – 23:03 3 – 1 3 – 2 28:57 – Jamie Papp (Doll) (Laviolette) Keith Aldridge – SH – 32:58 4 – 2 4 – 3 34:26 – Andre Doll (Burgoyne, Papp) 4 – 4 37:00 – PP – Mark Scollan (Dailey, Chartrand) (Battaglia, Blaznek) Matt Alvey – GW PP – 46:05 5 – 4
	18 min	Penalties	18 min
	38	Shots	28

March 22, 1996 8:30 pm

(4) Western Michigan

1–6 (0–1, 0–1, 1–4)

(5) Clarkson

Knickerbocker Arena Attendance: 7,513

Game reference
	Marc Magliarditi (out 53:44) Matt Barnes (in 53:44)	Goalies	Dan Murphy	Referees: Frank Cole Drew Taylor Linesman: Bill Jones
	0 – 1 09:45 – Jean-François Houle (Seitz) 0 – 2 28:57 – GW PP – David Seitz (White, Palmer) 0 – 3 48:51 – SH – Steve Palmer (unassisted) 0 – 4 51:32 – PP – Matt Pagnutti (White, Palmer) 0 – 5 53:44 – Jordan Grant (Ollila, Bates) 0 – 6 57:59 – Dana Mulvihill (Besse, Roule) (Brooks) Jeremy Brown – 59:27 1 – 6
	45 min	Penalties	46 min
	36	Shots	30

Quarterfinals

March 23, 1996 8:30 pm

(1) Boston University

3–2 (2–0, 1–0, 0–2)

(5) Clarkson

Knickerbocker Arena Attendance: 12,402

Game reference
	Tom Noble	Goalies	Dan Murphy	Referees: Robin Anderson John Seidel Linesman: John Campion
	(O'Sullivan) Chris Drury – 02:44 1 – 0 (Grier, Bates) Billy Pierce – PP – 10:40 2 – 0 (Walsh, Wood) Mike Sylvia – GW – 30:24 3 – 0 3 – 1 45:11 – PP – Steve Palmer (Lipsett) 3 – 2 48:01 – PP – Todd White (Seitz)
	12 min	Penalties	10 min
	40	Shots	22

March 23, 1996 5:00 pm

(2) Vermont

2–1 (0–0, 1–1, 1–0)

(3) Lake Superior State

Knickerbocker Arena Attendance: 11,524

Game reference
	Tim Thomas	Goalies	John Grahame	Referees: Frank Cole Drew Taylor Linesman: Bill Jones
	0 – 1 21:47 – Mike Matteucci (Fuss) (Perrin) Martin St. Louis – PP – 28:04 1 – 1 (Perrin, Ruid) Martin St. Louis – GW – 58:07 2 – 1
	12 min	Penalties	16 min
	20	Shots	33

West Regional – East Lansing, Michigan

First Round

March 23, 1996 3:00 pm

(3) Minnesota

5–1 (1–1, 1–0, 3–0)

(6) Providence

Munn Ice Arena

Game reference
	Jeff Moen	Goalies	Dan Dennis	Referees: Mike Noeth Harry Ammian Linesman: Jack Dunn
	(Wasley, Kraft) Wyatt Smith – 01:43 1 – 0 1 – 1 04:50 – Russ Guzior (Hurlberg, Sundquist) (Checco, Kraft) Wyatt Smith – GW – 22:29 2 – 1 (Moser) Brian Bonin – 48:09 3 – 1 (Hankinson, LaFleur) Reggie Berg – 53:58 4 – 1 (Trebil, Conway) Erik Rasmussen – PP – 56:40 5 – 1
	10 min	Penalties	8 min
	30	Shots	21

March 23, 1996 6:30 pm

(4) Massachusetts–Lowell

6–2 (2–0, 2–1, 2–1)

(5) Michigan State

Munn Ice Arena Attendance: 5,497

Game reference
	Martin Fillion	Goalies	Chad Alban	Referees: Buzz Christensen Bob Ames Linesman: Randy Schmidt
	(Donovan, Sbrocca) Jeff Daw – PP – 07:12 1 – 0 (Concannon, Donovan) David Barrozino – 16:57 2 – 0 (Dartsch) Marc Salsman – GW – 26:52 3 – 0 (Sbrocca) Brendan Concannon – SH – 31:30 4 – 0 4 – 1 38:52 – PP – Sean Berens (York, Watt) (Concannon) David Barrozino – 40:34 5 – 1 5 – 2 46:42 – Mark Loeding (Adams, Ford) (Mahoney, Sandholm) David Barrozino – 57:42 6 – 2
	16 min	Penalties	4 min
	31	Shots	39

Quarterfinals

March 24, 1996 5:30 pm

(1) Colorado College

5–3 (1–0, 1–2, 3–1)

(4) Massachusetts–Lowell

Munn Ice Arena Attendance: 6,043

Game reference
	Ryan Bach	Goalies	Martin Fillion	Referees: Harry Ammian John Murphy Linesman: Mike Emantian
	(Remackel, Hartnell) Scott Swanson – 01:24 1 – 0 1 – 1 20:15 – PP – Neil Donovan (Sbrocca, Concannon) 1 – 2 31:11 – Brendan Concannon (Sbrocca) (Rud) Calvin Elfring – PP – 31:50 2 – 2 (Geronazzo, Cheyne) Colin Schmidt – 40:37 3 – 2 (Hartnell, Needham) Scott Swanson – GW – 41:01 4 – 2 (Cheyne, Geronazzo) Colin Schmidt – 55:11 5 – 2 5 – 3 56:44 – Neil Donovan (Concannon)
	37	Shots	19

March 24, 1996 2:00 pm

(2) Michigan

4–3 (1–2, 1–0, 2–1)

(3) Minnesota

Munn Ice Arena Attendance: 6,043

Game reference
	Marty Turco	Goalies	Steve DeBus	Referees: Mike Noeth Alex Dell Linesman: Jack Dunn
	0 – 1 03:38 – SH – Nick Checco (Trebil) (Morrison, Halko) John Madden – PP – 08:32 1 – 1 1 – 2 11:56 – PP – Jay Moser (unassisted) (Madden) Mike Legg – PP – 27:06 2 – 2 (Morrison, Muckalt) Warren Luhning – PP – 47:33 3 – 2 3 – 3 54:59 - Casey Hankinson (Larson, Zwakman) (Morrison) Bill Muckalt – GW – 57:59 4 – 3
	14 min	Penalties	12 min
	20	Shots	22

Frozen Four – Cincinnati, Ohio

National Semifinals

March 28, 1996 2:40 pm

(W1) Colorado College

4–3 (2OT) (0–0, 2–1, 1–2, 0–0, 1–0)

(E2) Vermont

Riverfront Coliseum Attendance: 11,328

Game reference
	Judd Lambert	Goalies	Tim Thomas	Referees: Frank Cole Drew Taylor Linesman: Bill Jones
	(B. Swanson, McNeill) Scott Swanson – 20:26 1 – 0 1 – 1 31:33 – PP – Martin St. Louis (Perrin, McKell) (S. Swanson) Jay McNeill – 33:19 2 – 1 2 – 2 41:02 – Éric Perrin (Ruid, St. Louis) (Gudmundson) Brian Swanson – 43:09 3 – 2 3 – 3 54:23 – Phil Eboli (Johnson) (McNeill) Chad Remackel – GW – 89:31 4 – 3
	16 min	Penalties	16 min
	46	Shots	35

March 28, 1996 9:30 pm

(E1) Boston University

0–4 (0–2, 0–1, 0–1)

(W2) Michigan

Riverfront Coliseum Attendance: 11,521

Game reference
	Tom Noble	Goalies	Marty Turco	Referees: Robin Anderson John Seidel Linesman: John Campion
	0 – 1 03:58 – GW PP – Brendan Morrison (Hilton, Botterill) 0 – 2 04:38 – Greg Crozier (Luhning, Sloan) 0 – 3 25:37 – PP – Bill Muckalt (Botterill, Luhning) 0 – 4 44:25 – Greg Crozier (Luhning)
	12 min	Penalties	14 min
	17	Shots	27

National Championship

March 30, 1996 1:00 pm

(W1) Colorado College

2–3 (OT) (0–1, 2–0, 0–1, 0–1)

(W2) Michigan

Riverfront Coliseum Attendance: 13,330

Game reference
				Referees: Frank Cole Drew Taylor Linesman: Bill Jones

Scoring summary
Period	Team	Goal	Assist(s)	Time	Score
1st	UM	Bill Muckalt	Morrison	11:33	1–0 UM
2nd	CC	Peter Geronazzo – PP	Schmidt and Rud	23:52	1–1
	CC	Colin Schmidt	Geronazzo and Remackel	25:37	2–1 CC
3rd	UM	Mike Legg – PP	Halko and Schock	46:54	2–2
1st Overtime	UM	Brendan Morrison – GW	Muckalt and Crozier	63:35	3–2 UM
Penalty summary
Period	Team	Player	Penalty	Time	PIM
1st	CC	Bob Needham	Unsportsmanlike conduct	5:39	2:00
	UM	John Madden	Unsportsmanlike conduct	5:39	2:00
	CC	Darren Clark	Slashing	8:29	2:00
	CC	Chad Remackel	Holding	12:05	2:00
	UM	Greg Crozier	Holding	12:05	2:00
	UM	Blake Sloan	Interference	16:27	2:00
2nd	CC	Eric Rud	Holding the stick	21:01	2:00
	UM	Warren Luhning	Slashing	22:51	2:00
	CC	Jon Austin	Boarding	30:16	2:00
	UM	Warren Luhning	Holding	31:31	2:00
	UM	Warren Luhning	Charging	33:50	2:00
	UM	Chris Frescoln	Holding	36:49	2:00
3rd
	CC	T.J. Tanberg	Tripping	45:32	2:00
	CC	Travis Cheyne	Boarding	47:14	2:00
	UM	Mike Legg	Holding	52:16	2:00
	UM	John Madden	Unsportsmanlike conduct	52:16	2:00
	CC	Peter Geronazzo	Roughing after the whistle	52:16	2:00
	CC	Bob Needham	Unsportsmanlike conduct	52:16	2:00
	UM	Chris Frescoln	High-sticking	58:32	2:00
	CC	Chad Remackel	Roughing	58:32	2:00
1st Overtime	none

Shots by period
Team	1	2	3	OT	T
Michigan	3	4	10	2	19
Colorado College	5	8	8	1	23

Goaltenders
Team	Name	Saves	Goals against	Time on ice
UM	Marty Turco	21	2
CC	Ryan Bach	16	3

All-Tournament team

• G: Marty Turco (Michigan)
• D: Steven Halko (Michigan)
• D: Scott Swanson (Colorado College)
• F: Peter Geronazzo (Colorado College)
• F: Brendan Morrison* (Michigan)
• F: Martin St. Louis (Vermont)

* Most Outstanding Player(s)

Record by conference

Conference	# of Bids	Record	Win %	Regional semifinals	Frozen Four	Championship Game	Champions
CCHA	4	4-3	.571	2	1	1	1
ECAC	3	2-3	.400	2	1	-	-
Hockey East	3	2-3	.400	2	1	-	-
WCHA	2	3-2	.600	2	1	1	-