The stat sheet: NCAA Hockey

Hockey Digest, Dec, 2002

2

Hobey Baker finalists from last season playing in the college ranks this year. Only University of Denver goalie Wade Dubielewicz and Cornell defenseman Doug Murray are back for a chance to win college hockey's most outstanding player award.

46

Points scored by last season's Hobey Baker Award winner, Minnesota's Jordan Leopold, which led all NCAA defensemen.

4

Hobey Baker winners from the University of Minnesota. In addition to Leopold, other Golden Gophers named the top player in college hockey are Neil Broten (1981), Robb Stauber (1988), and Brian Bonin (1996).

26

Career shutouts by Michigan State goalie Ryan Miller, the 2001 Hobey Baker winner, who left school this summer, forgoing his senior year, to play for the Buffalo Sabres.

.950

Miller's single-season save percentage record set in 2000-01. That season he went 31-5-4 with a 1.32 GAA.

138

Pick of the 1999 draft with which Buffalo took Miller.

16

Automatic qualifiers in this season's NCAA tournament. Previously 12 teams qualified. The increase to 16 means the end of first-round byes.

10

Times the state of New York has hosted the Frozen Four. The tournament will be played in Buffalo's HSBC Arena this spring.

14

Times the state of Colorado has hosted the Frozen Four, the most of any state.

19,234

Attendance record set at last spring's championship game held at St. Paul's Xcel Energy Center.

23

Years between NCAA championships won by the 2002 champions, Minnesota. The Golden Gophers were last crowned champs in 1979.

34

Years since our preseason favorite, the University of Denver, has won an NCAA championship

2 New coaches replacing college hockey legends this season. Mike Eaves takes over in Wisconsin for Jeff Sauer and Rick Comley takes the reins at Michigan State for Ron Mason.

20

Seasons Sauer coached at Wisconsin. In that time he led the Badgers to two NCAA titles and reached the tournament 12 times.

21

NCAA tournaments reached by Mason while at MSU, an NCAA record.

180

Wins separating Mason from the next coach on the all-rime victory list. Mason retired with an NCAA record 924 victories against 380 loses and 83 ties.

74,554

World-record attendance at last yews Michigan vs. Michigan State game played outdoors at Michigan State's football stadium.

55,000

The previous record attendance for a hockey game, set in Moscow during the 1957 world championships.