Highlights
The 1983 Falcons won UW-River Falls' first-ever National Championship.
The team was seeded No. 1 going into the tourney which was played at UW-Superior.
UWRF finished the year 24-6-1 overall.
The Falcons went into overtime four times and were 3-0-1.
The Falcons finished 9-2 during their last 11 games before entering
the National Tourney.
Coach George Gwozdecky was in his second of a three-year career
with the Falcons. He now is the head hockey coach at Denver University.
DU won the 2004 NCAA Championship.
Tom D'Andrea led the team in scoring with 22-26-48. Mike Kelly
was second withi 22-10-32 and John Seidel third at 9-22-31. Kelly led
the team with 10 power-play goals and Mike Collins led the squad with
four short-handed goals. The Falcons scored eight hat tricks during hte
season and were led bt Kelly who had four. Goalie Doug Cole played in
15 games nad had a 3.63 goals against average and a .869 saves percentage.
Mike Mitch played in 12 games and finished with a 3.91 goals against average
and an .862 saves percentage.
Forward Tom D'Adrea was named the tourney's Most Valuable Player.
He scored two goals and added one assist in the semifinals and scored
the three-goal hat trick and had one assist in the championship tilt.
Against Hawthorne D'Andrea scored twice and goalie Mike Mitch made
13 saves to earn his first career shutout.
In the championship game Mike King and D'Andrea scored hat tricks.
With the Falcons leading 3-2, the team scored six goals in a span of 7:42
to take control of the game. Goalie Doug Cole made 12 saves.
Forward Mike King and defensemen Greg Dey and Mike Piette were
all named to the All-Tourney team. |
1983 NAIA National Champions
Front, left to right: Mickey Keating, assistant coach, Scott Dickmeyer,
Mike Peitte, Doug Cole, George Gwozdecky, head coach, Mike Mitch, John
Seidel, Bob Ehresmann, Mike McGraw, assistant coach. Middle, left to right:
Rob Gaulke, manager, Ron Beck, Rob Nelson, Charles Harris, Todd Christensen,
Scott Simpson, Mike Cowley, Tom D'Andrea, Jon Erickson, Eric Flom, Mike
King, Jeff Whitney, Jim Walsh. Top, left to right: Annie Richardson, student
trainer, Dave Giblin, Greg Dey, Dan Duffey, Mark Severson, Craig Johnson,
Mike Colins, Paul Dykstra, Chris Telander, Doug Lick, Mike Kelly, Doug
Dosser, Chris Schack, statistician. Not pictured, Mike Ellis.
-- Championship Game Result --
River Falls 12, Michigan-Dearborn 5
Saturday, February 26 at Superior, Wis.
Scoring by period
Michigan-Dearborn 2 2 1-5
River Falls 5 5 2-12
Scoring summary
First period: RF D'Andrea, PPG, 1:49. RF Kelly, 4:52. RF Dykstra
(D'Andrea), 11:25 MD 11:464. MD Davis , PPG, 15:57. RF Lick (Beck), 17:07.
RF Kelly (Beck), 17:15. Second period: RF D'Andrea (Johnson) 2:52.
RF D'Andrea (Johnson), 3:44. RF Kelly , 4:33. RF Dickmeyer (Collins),
5:41. MD Szajner, 7:53. RF Nelson, 9:58. MD 14:57. Third period: RF Cowley, PPG, 3:12. RF Johnson, 4:36. MD 9:48. Saves: Doug Cole
(RF) 12.
-- Semifinal Game Result --
River Falls 7, Hawthorne 0
Friday, February 25 at Superior, Wis.
Scoring by period
Hawthorne 0 0 0-0
River Falls 1 4 2-7
Scoring summary
First period: RF King, 18:57. Second period: RF Dykstra.
RF King. RF D'Andrea. RF Nelson. Third period: RF D'Andrea. RF
Seidel, PPG.. Saves: Mike Mitch (RF) 13.
| No |
Name |
Pos |
Ht |
Wt |
Yr |
Hometown (High School) |
| 1 |
Mike Mitch |
G |
5-10 |
165 |
Jr |
Milwaukee, Wis. (University) |
| 2 |
Ron Beck |
D |
5-9 |
185 |
So |
Penticton, B.C. (Secondary) |
| 3 |
Mike Piette |
D |
6-1 |
195 |
Sr |
Woodbury, Minn. |
| 4 |
Eric Flom |
D |
6-0 |
175 |
So |
South St. Paul, Minn. |
| 5 |
Mark Severson |
D |
5-11 |
195 |
So |
Coon Rapids, Minn. |
| 7 |
Paul Dysktra |
F |
5-9 |
165 |
Sr |
New Brighton, Minn. (Irondale) |
| 8 |
Bob Ehresmann |
F |
5-8 |
160 |
Sr |
St. Cloud, Minn. (Apollo) |
| 9 |
John Seidel |
F |
5-9 |
163 |
Sr |
St. Paul, Minn. (Cretin) |
| 10 |
Greg Dey |
D |
5-10 |
170 |
Fr |
Elk River, Minn. |
| 11 |
Mike Cowley |
D |
6-2 |
195 |
So |
West St. Paul, Minn. (Sibley) |
| 12 |
Craig Johnson |
D |
6-0 |
170 |
So |
New Hope, Minn. (Cooper) |
| 13 |
Doug Dosser |
D |
5-8 |
163 |
Jr |
St. Paul, Minn. (Park) |
| 14 |
Mike Kelly |
F |
5-8 |
157 |
Jr |
New Brighton, Minn. (Irondale) |
| 15 |
Mike Collins |
F |
5-10 |
170 |
So |
Cornwall, Ont. (Vanier) |
| 16 |
Jon Erickson |
F |
6-1 |
190 |
So |
Upland, Calif. (Damien) |
| 17 |
Mike King |
F |
5-10 |
175 |
So |
Brooklyn Park, Minn. (Hill-Murray) |
| 18 |
Doug Lick |
F |
5-9 |
185 |
Jr |
South St. Paul, Minn. |
| 19 |
Scott Dickmeyer |
F |
5-8 |
162 |
Jr |
South St. Paul, Minn. |
| 20 |
Jim Walsh |
F |
5-10 |
160 |
So |
Rosemount, Minn. |
| 21 |
Jeff Whitney |
F |
5-11 |
175 |
Jr |
Rochester, Minn. (Mayo) |
| 22 |
Rob Nelson |
F |
5-10 |
155 |
Jr |
Brooklyn Park, Minn. (Osseo) |
| 23 |
Scott Simpson |
F |
6-1 |
172 |
Fr |
St. Louis, Mo. (Vianney) |
| 24 |
Tom D¹Andrea |
F |
6-1 |
190 |
So |
Cottage Grove, Minn. (Park) |
| 25 |
Mike Ellis |
F |
5-9 |
180 |
So |
Crystal, Minn. (Cooper) |
| 26 |
Charles Harris |
D |
6-0 |
200 |
Fr |
Madison, Wis. (Memorial) |
| 27 |
Todd Christensen |
D |
6-1 |
185 |
Fr |
Spring Park, Minn. (Mound-Westonka) |
| 28 |
Chris Telander |
F |
5-9 |
170 |
Fr |
Richfield, Minn. |
| 30 |
Dave Giblin |
G |
6-0 |
170 |
Fr |
Eagan, Minn. (Sibley) |
| 35 |
Doug Cole |
G |
5-8 |
160 |
So |
Penticton, B. C. (Secondary) |
|
John Byers |
D |
5-10 |
165 |
Fr |
Long Lake, Minn. (Orono) |
|
Jeff Distad |
G |
6-0 |
175 |
Fr |
Northfield, Minn. |
|
Pat Ellena |
F |
6-0 |
180 |
Fr |
Cooon Rapids, Minn. |
|
Steve Juhl |
D |
5-9 |
170 |
So |
Stillwater, Minn. |
|
Bernie Kolnberger |
F |
5-9 |
170 |
So |
St. Paul, Minn. (Humboldt) |
|
Scott McNurlin |
G |
5-9 |
163 |
Fr |
Red Wing, Minn. |
|
Dan Muzzy |
F |
6-0 |
176 |
Fr |
Maple Grove, Minn. (Mound-Westonka) |
|
Craig Nelson |
F |
5-6 |
135 |
So |
Rochester, Minn. (John Marshall) |
|
Dave Ney |
F |
5-9 |
160 |
Fr |
Rochester, Minn. (John Marshall) |
|
Rob Sierakowski |
F |
5-9 |
175 |
Fr |
St. Paul, Minn. (Tartan) |
|
Matt Wiczek |
F |
5-10 |
150 |
Fr |
Anoka, Minn. |
Head coach: George Gwozdecky
Assistant coaches: Mike McGraw, Mickey Keating |
