The Greatest Programs of All-Time: #1-#59

[willythekid]

Re: The Greatest Programs of All-Time: #1-#59

Gophers are 131-117-15 against Michigan.
Gophers are 146-130-15 against the whioux.

All Time:
Gophers 1707-956-182 .632
Wolverines 1594-1019-145 .604
whioux 1409-926-133 .598

Nuff said.

Well, I'm sold. If anyone is going to sell me that slight differences in regular season win percentages are more important than national titles it's going to be a delusional goofer fan.

 

[burd]

Re: The Greatest Programs of All-Time: #1-#59

Gophers are 131-117-15 against Michigan.
Gophers are 146-130-15 against the whioux.

All Time:
Gophers 1707-956-182 .632
Wolverines 1594-1019-145 .604
whioux 1409-926-133 .598

Nuff said.

First of all, stick taps for the time and effort in creating this list. Well done.

My $.02:

Affixing the "greatest" label on a entity such as a college sports team needs to go beyond the cold calculus you've admirably applied here. Entities that carry the "greatest" label do so because they are measured beyond their competitive successes. They are often measured by how they elevate and contribute to their sport. They are measured, in part, by as much as how they lead. And when it comes to leadership within collegiate hockey, the Gopher program knows no peer.

Consider:

John Mariucci's reliance on Minnesota players helped grow the sport where today the state supplies the lions share of collegiate hockey talent across the nation.

The Gopher hockey program has groomed numerous hockey players who went on to create and lead hockey powerhouses as coaches. Dean Blais and "Badger" Bob Johnson are two of the most notable examples.

The greatest sports event of the 20th century, the Miracle on Ice was led by a Gopher-heavy team coached by then Gopher coaches Warren Strelow and Herb Brooks. (Warren Strelow was the Gopher goalie coach. He would later be the first on-staff NHL goalie coach)

The Gophers garnered TV revenues that paid the WCHA bills for decades.

These are but a few of the intangibles that I believe must be taken into consideration in any comprehensive evaluation of collegiate hockey greatness. I'll defer to my Gopher brethren to add to it and for the legion of Gopher haters to attempt to discount them. And regarding the haters, you can't be the greatest program until an equal number of people admire and despise you

Michigan?

Please.

Michigan has spent the past 20+ years padding it's resume by punching below it's weight in the CCHA.

UND?

Mostly great numbers (a losing record against the Gophers) but other than spineless capitulation to a Nazi lover and the politically correct, what have they contributed to the game?

Again, great job!

It's true what they say, Minnesota education SUCKS! Your argument proves my point more. Penn State needed or wanted (not sure which) to play one year independent and then they could join/make the B1G TEN HOCKEY CONFERENCE. Face it, when Penn State decided to join/create the B1G that is what shook up everything. Without Penn State there would be no B1G TEN HOCKEY CONFERENCE. The CCHA would still exist, the NCHC wouldn't exist, the WCHA would not have changed, Notre Dame wouldn't be in the Big East, etc.

Wow you're slow...

Go back to dancing....

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=krVXRCcr2M4

Wow. When the big boys started pulling them out, I thought we'd see some real pythons. Now I know why you guys compensate so much.

 

[Terry Switzer]

Re: The Greatest Programs of All-Time: #1-#59

Well, I'm sold. If anyone is going to sell me that slight differences in regular season win percentages are more important than national titles it's going to be a delusional goofer fan.

Post of the year Mr. Willy the kid. UW may be 0-6 right now, but the goofs losing to Holy cross will live forever as the greatest upset of college hockey.

 

[Go4PuckFan2.0]

Post of the year Mr. Willy the kid. UW may be 0-6 right now, but the goofs losing to Holy cross will live forever as the greatest upset of college hockey.

UW may be 0-6 right now?

Really?

You're, like, unsure?

Trust me on this, Bo Peep. Your team is 0-6.

Soon to be 0-8.

Relegated to playing DIII teams behind closed doors.

And with a ranking of 59 out of 59, Wisconsin's hockey program has been the greatest fall from grace in college hockey history.

 

[D2D]

Re: The Greatest Programs of All-Time: #1-#59

UW may be 0-6 right now, but the goofs losing to Holy cross will live forever as the greatest upset of college hockey.

The Gophers losing to 59th ranked Wisconsin would be far worse!

 

[Fighting Sioux 23]

Re: The Greatest Programs of All-Time: #1-#59

UW may be 0-6 right now?

Really?

You're, like, unsure?

Trust me on this, Bo Peep. Your team is 0-6.

Soon to be 0-8.

Relegated to playing DIII teams behind closed doors.

And with a ranking of 59 out of 59, Wisconsin's hockey program has been the greatest fall from grace in college hockey history.

Fortunately for Wisconsin fans this is a thread for all-time (and also doesn't include this season's results at the moment).

And I know this is just some good ribbing between rivals (glad to see there was some in the lead up to today), but every program goes through seasons like this. Even some bum named John Mariucci (or was it Juan Mariachi?) "led" Minnesota to an 0-7-1 start in the first season of the WCHA.

Even a legendary coach like Dave Hakstol has had some rough starts to the season.

The order of the top 3 will be announced today!

 

[Snively65]

Re: The Greatest Programs of All-Time: #1-#59

At what time?

 

[FreshFish]

Re: The Greatest Programs of All-Time: #1-#59

The order of the top 3 will be announced today!

Based on the relative ranks from last year and a rough idea of how your formula works, I can venture a guess on the final order:

3. Minnesota closes the gap on still 2. North Dakota which still is behind 1. Michigan

 

[Fighting Sioux 23]

Re: The Greatest Programs of All-Time: #1-#59

At what time?

When would everyone like to see them?

 

[burd]

Re: The Greatest Programs of All-Time: #1-#59

When would everyone like to see them?

Bring them on, but allow enough time for them to blow Taps in gopher land.

 

[Fighting Sioux 23]

Re: The Greatest Programs of All-Time: #1-#59

Ladies and Gentlemen, the top three programs in the history of college hockey...

#1 – Michigan Wolverines
All-Time Record (Division 1): 1592-1014-145 (.605)
NCAA Tournament Appearances: 35
NCAA Tournament Record: 50-28
Frozen Four Appearances: 24 (1948, 1949, 1950, 1951, 1952, 1953, 1954, 1955, 1956, 1957, 1962, 1964, 1977, 1992, 1993, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2008, 2011)
Best Result: National Champion
Most Dominant Season*: 1995-1996 (34-7-2 (.814) CCHA Tournament Champions, NCAA National Champion)
Conference Championships: Regular Season - 13 Tournament - 9
National Championships: 9 (1948, 1951, 1952, 1953, 1955, 1956, 1964, 1996, 1998)
Points Earned – 493.4401
Change: 0.3218 (+ 0.07%)
Last Season Position: 1 (unchanged)

The Michigan Wolverines come in at #1. The Wolverines struggled in the inaugural season of the Big Ten Hockey Conference, and failed to make the NCAA Tournament for the second consecutive season. This down stretch comes on the heels of arguably the most impressive run of consistency in college hockey history, as Michigan played in 22 consecutive NCAA Tournaments from 1990-1991 through 2011-2012. The Wolverines have had two eras of dominance in college hockey history. The first was right after World War II, when the Wolverines strung together 12 winning seasons from 1945-1946 through 1956-1957 under the guide of legendary bench boss Vic Heyliger. Heyliger led the Wolverines to 10 consecutive Frozen Four appearances, and an astonishing 6 National Titles, including the only three-peat ever. Following Heyliger’s reign, the Wolverines struggled, winning just 1 National Title and made only three NCAA Tournaments between 1958 and 1990. Ultimately though, it is Michigan’s 9 National Championships that have them atop these rankings. However, the Wolverines will need to pick up the pace and win some more hardware if they hope to fight off the challengers that lie below them. For now, they sit atop the heap as the greatest program in college hockey history.

#2 – North Dakota Fighting Sioux
All-Time Record (Division 1): 1398-913-132 (.599)
NCAA Tournament Appearances: 29
NCAA Tournament Record: 46-24
Frozen Four Appearances: 20 (1958, 1959, 1963, 1965, 1967, 1968, 1979, 1980, 1982, 1984, 1987, 1997, 2000, 2001, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2011, 2014)
Best Result: National Champion (1959, 1963, 1980, 1982, 1987, 1997, 2000)
Most Dominant Season*: 1986-1987 (40-8-0 (.833) WCHA Regular Season Champions, WCHA Tournament Champions, NCAA National Champion)
Conference Championships: Regular Season - 15 Tournament - 11
National Championships: 7
Points Earned – 452.5498
Change: 3.0914 (+ 0.69%)
Last Season Position: 2 (unchanged)

The North Dakota Fighting Sioux come in at #2. North Dakota surprised some with its impressive run to the Frozen Four last season before falling to rival Minnesota in epic fashion in the Frozen Four semifinal. The Sioux have arguably been the most consistent program in college hockey history, winning national championships in five different decades. North Dakota also seems to play its best hockey when it counts the most, sporting the best NCAA Tournament winning percentage amongst programs in the top 20. North Dakota’s 21 Frozen Four victories stand just behind Michigan, and the program’s seven National Titles also fall just behind the Wolverines. The Sioux are currently in a strong stretch in their program’s history, as they have advanced to the NCAA Tournament in 12 consecutive seasons, and 17 of the last 18. If the Sioux can win some more conference hardware, and get that elusive eighth national championship, they could supplant Michigan as the top program in college hockey history. For now, they sit at #2.

#3 – Minnesota Golden Gophers
All-Time Record (Division 1): 1700-955-182 (.631)
NCAA Tournament Appearances: 35
NCAA Tournament Record: 55-36
Frozen Four Appearances: 21 (1953, 1954, 1961, 1971, 1974, 1975, 1976, 1979, 1981, 1983, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1994, 1995, 2002, 2003, 2005, 2012, 2014)
Best Result: National Champion (1974, 1976, 1979, 2002, 2003)
Most Dominant Season*: 1980-1981 (33-12-0 (.733) WCHA Regular Season Champions, WCHA Tournament Champions, NCAA National Runner Up)
Conference Championships: Regular Season - 15 Tournament - 14
National Championships: 5
Points Earned – 431.9797
Change: 16.7738 (+ 4.04%)
Last Season Position: 3 (unchanged)

The Minnesota Golden Gophers come in at #3. The Gophers had a tremendous campaign last season, reaching the National Championship game before falling to a strong Union squad. Minnesota has had a resurgence in recent seasons, reaching 2 of the last 3 Frozen Fours, and each season falling to the eventual National Champion. However, the Gophers’ history is littered with success. Minnesota has played in and won more games than any other program, and are tied with Michigan for the most NCAA Tournament appearances. The Gophers also dominated the college hockey landscape prior to the formation of the NCAA Tournament, including a tremendous season in 1939-1940 where the Gophers went undefeated. It is this tremendous history that vaults the Gophers over other programs who have won more National Championships. If Minnesota can keep dominating the Big Ten, win more conference hardware, cause more damage in the NCAA tournament, and win another national title or two, they could easily find themselves atop these rankings. For now, they sit at #3.

#1 – Michigan – 493.4401
#2 – North Dakota – 452.5498
#3 – Minnesota – 431.9797
#4 - Boston College - 360.7912
#5 - Denver - 355.4322
#6 - Wisconsin - 345.9141
#7 - Boston University - 344.7717
#8 - Michigan State - 233.7003
#9 - Maine - 172.1054
#10 - Michigan Tech - 161.8814
#11 - Cornell - 159.018
#12 - Lake Superior State - 155.1683
#13 - Colorado College - 148.1879
#14 - Harvard - 129.0634
#15 - Clarkson - 128.0195
#16 - Minnesota Duluth - 111.5523
#17 - Rensselaer - 100.4252
#18 - New Hampshire - 83.5951
#19 - Northern Michigan - 80.9098
#20 - Bowling Green - 80.4704
#21 - Yale - 74.1412
#22 - St. Lawrence - 67.3464
#23 - Union - 57.2992
#24 - Providence - 48.6853
#25 - Miami - 46.6971
#26 - Notre Dame - 40.1649
#27 - Dartmouth - 39.6473
#28 - Ferris State - 32.6449
#29 - Colgate - 31.9207
#30 - Northeastern - 25.981
#31 - Quinnipiac - 25.2018
#32 - St. Cloud State - 25.0657
#33 - Brown - 21.4977
#34 - Ohio State - 19.2421
#35 - Massachusetts Lowell - 17.8988
#36 - Vermont - 17.4219
#37 - Bemidji State - 12.3169
#38 - RIT - 9.4061
#39 - Western Michigan - 7.9725
#40 - Niagara - 7.9213
#41 - Princeton - 7.1971
#42 - Air Force - 6.4961
#43 - Alaska Anchorage - 6.3671
#44 - Holy Cross - 5.0707
#45 - Nebraska Omaha - 5.0605
#46 - Minnesota State - 4.6448
#47 - Merrimack - 4.6092
#48 - Mercyhurst - 4.5085
#49 - Alaska - 3.8568
#50 - Massachusetts - 3.5038
#51 - Alabama Huntsville - 2.1932
#52 - Army - 1.6052
#53 - Canisius - 0.6028
#54 - Robert Morris - 0.5497
#55 - Connecticut - 0.2728
#56 - Sacred Heart - 0.1664
#57 - Penn State - 0.0589
#58 - AIC - 0.0374
#59 - Bentley - 0.0363

*According to my formula for determining the best teams from the NCAA era (1947-present)

 

[FreshFish]

Re: The Greatest Programs of All-Time: #1-#59

for now, [Michigan] sit atop the heap as the greatest program in college hockey history.

Queue the Minnesota fans saying "you mean, only during the NCAA era, don't you? Minnesota has far better history before the NCAA tournament started!" in three....two....one....

 

[Erix_The_Red]

Re: The Greatest Programs of All-Time: #1-#59

Queue the Minnesota fans saying "you mean, only during the NCAA era, don't you? Minnesota has far better history before the NCAA tournament started!" in three....two....one....

As a Green Bay Packers fan, I am OK with this logic.

 

[D2D]

Re: The Greatest Programs of All-Time: #1-#59

"However, the Wolverines will need to pick up the pace and win some more hardware if they hope to fight off the challengers that lie below them."

With the Gophers and Sioux each looking very strong this season, with good prospects of advancing far in the NCAA tournament, the rankings at the top COULD get a little tighter on your next go-around.

 

[burd]

Re: The Greatest Programs of All-Time: #1-#59

Thanks, FS, for a lot of work.

 

[Siouxfaninseattle]

Re: The Greatest Programs of All-Time: #1-#59

Very nice work FS!

 

[5mn_Major]

Re: The Greatest Programs of All-Time: #1-#59

Yes, great piece of work. The logic, the results, the write up, the whole bit. Should consider a way to get creative and make money off this general approach.

 

[burd]

Re: The Greatest Programs of All-Time: #1-#59

Now, when Michigan loses out the rest of the way, and UND beats the Gophers in the Championship game with .5 seconds left, will you recalibrate this, FS?

 

[Fighting Sioux 23]

Re: The Greatest Programs of All-Time: #1-#59

"However, the Wolverines will need to pick up the pace and win some more hardware if they hope to fight off the challengers that lie below them."

With the Gophers and Sioux each looking very strong this season, with good prospects of advancing far in the NCAA tournament, the rankings at the top COULD get a little tighter on your next go-around.

In the four years I've been doing these rankings (I actually started working on the formula and collecting data back in 2008-2009, but the first iteration of these rankings were finished during the 2010-2011 season), the following are general rules of thumb for how many points are awarded for a given run:
National Championship - 38-45 Points
Runner-up - 15-20 Points
Frozen Four - 6-8 Points (North Dakota was an anomaly this season only gaining just over three points)
Regional Final - 3-4 Points
NCAA Tournament birth - 1.5-2 points

Obviously winning other hardware adds some to the equation as well.

What does that mean for this season?

Michigan is relatively safe at the top, barring North Dakota winning the national title.

Minnesota and North Dakota are safe from being supplanted in the top 3.

Minnesota likely only takes over the #2 spot with a national title, unless that championship is won over North Dakota (in which case it would be extremely close)

Boston College and Denver are probably safe in the top 5 barring a great run by either BU or Wisconsin. Denver would likely overtake BC by making a run to the Frozen Four (provided that BC does not make the Frozen Four).

BU and Wisconsin are safe in the top 7. Whoever has the better season will likely be #6 or better, the program with the worse season will likely be #7.

Michigan State is stuck at #8 for the foreseeable future.

Obviously, from there a lot can change. What is striking to me, is that in my first rankings, Union was #52 with just a point or so. They have absolutely rocketed up the rankings.

Anyway, if people have any questions or anything, let me know. Thanks to everyone for the well wishes. Hopefully next time it doesn't take me 7 months to finish up posting the rankings

 

[Fighting Sioux 23]

Re: The Greatest Programs of All-Time: #1-#59

Now, when Michigan loses out the rest of the way, and UND beats the Gophers in the Championship game with .5 seconds left, will you recalibrate this, FS?

I recalculate after every season. It usually takes me about a week after the title game to compile all the data I need to add into the formula.