1970–71 NCAA University Division men's ice hockey season

The 1970–71 NCAA University Division men's ice hockey season began in November 1970 and concluded with the 1971 NCAA University Division Men's Ice Hockey Tournament's championship game on March 20, 1971 at the Onondaga War Memorial in Syracuse, New York. This was the 24th season in which an NCAA ice hockey championship was held and is the 76th year overall where an NCAA school fielded a team.

Saint Louis begins to sponsor their ice hockey program as an independent.

Regular season

Season tournaments

Tournament	Dates	Teams	Champion
North Country Thanksgiving Festival	November 26–28	4	Clarkson
ECAC Christmas Hockey Tournament	December 18–19	4	Cornell
ECAC Holiday Hockey Festival	December 21–22	4	Harvard
St. Louis Invitational	December 27–28	4	Wisconsin
Boston Arena Christmas Tournament	December 28–29	4	Boston University
Great Lakes Invitational	December 29–30	4	Michigan Tech
Nichols School Invitational	January 1–2	4	Dartmouth
Rensselaer Holiday Tournament	January 2–4	4	Wisconsin
Beanpot	February 8, 22	4	Boston University

Standings

1970–71 Big Ten standings
	Conference								Overall
	GP	W	L	T	Pct.	GF	GA		GP	W	L	T	GF	GA
Michigan State†	12	8	4	0	.667	56	47		31	19	12	0	152	124
Wisconsin	12	7	5	0	.583	51	40		34	20	13	1	180	110
Minnesota	10	5	5	0	.500	38	42		32	14	17	1	116	128
Michigan	10	2	8	0	.200	40	56		30	9	21	0	118	147
† indicates conference regular season champion

1970–71 ECAC Hockey standings
	Conference								Overall
	GP	W	L	T	Pct.	GF	GA		GP	W	L	T	GF	GA
Boston University†	20	18	1	1	.925	139	42		31	28	2	1	210	60
Clarkson	19	16	2	1	.868	76	38		33	28	4	1	151	75
Cornell	20	17	3	0	.850	111	44		27	22	5	0	159	63
Harvard*	21	15	5	1	.738	124	55		27	18	8	1	146	74
Brown	19	13	6	0	.684	70	63		24	13	10	0	77	87
Providence	19	12	7	0	.632	94	70		28	17	11	0	141	106
Pennsylvania	19	11	8	0	.579	90	74		25	14	11	0	129	93
Rensselaer	14	7	5	2	.571	119	81		25	16	7	2	125	95
New Hampshire	20	11	9	0	.550	119	92		29	20	9	0	210	112
Boston College	21	9	12	0	.429	92	112		26	11	15	0	121	141
Army	11	3	7	1	.318	32	48		23	8	14	1	81	80
St. Lawrence	17	5	12	0	.294	57	73		24	10	14	0	105	97
Dartmouth	21	6	15	0	.286	76	106		24	9	15	0	96	114
Yale	20	5	15	0	.250	64	105		24	6	17	1	74	127
Colgate	17	4	13	0	.235	54	111		24	7	17	0	87	156
Northeastern	19	3	16	0	.158	35	122		29	7	22	0	77	175
Princeton	21	1	20	0	.048	54	140		23	1	22	0	56	155
Championship: Harvard † indicates conference regular season champion * indicates conference tournament champion

1970–71 Independent College Athletic Conference standings
	Conference								Overall
	GP	W	L	T	PTS	GF	GA		GP	W	L	T	GF	GA
Clarkson†	4	3	0	1	7	19	7		33	28	4	1	151	175
St. Lawrence	4	2	2	0	4	12	10		24	10	14	0	105	97
Rensselaer	4	0	3	1	1	7	20		25	16	7	2	125	95
† indicates conference regular season champion

1970–71 NCAA University Division Independent ice hockey standings
	Conference								Overall
	GP	W	L	T	PTS	GF	GA		GP	W	L	T	GF	GA
Air Force	0	0	0	0	-	-	-		28	15	11	2	132	121
Alaska–Fairbanks	0	0	0	0	-	-	-		28	13	14	1	-	-
Bowling Green	0	0	0	0	-	-	-		31	18	12	1	-	-
Notre Dame	0	0	0	0	-	-	-		31	13	16	2	116	137
Ohio	0	0	0	0	-	-	-		27	12	15	0	-	-
Ohio State	0	0	0	0	-	-	-		29	20	9	0	160	78
Saint Louis	0	0	0	0	-	-	-		30	9	19	2

1970–71 Western Collegiate Hockey Association standings
	Conference								Overall
	GP	W	L	T	PCT	GF	GA		GP	W	L	T	GF	GA
Michigan Tech†	22	18	4	0	.818	112	62		33	25	6	2	173	105
Denver*	22	15	7	0	.682	114	92		36	25	10	1	178	133
Wisconsin	22	13	9	0	.591	102	77		34	20	13	1	180	110
Michigan State	22	12	10	0	.545	101	97		31	19	12	0	152	124
Minnesota*	22	9	12	1	.432	77	88		32	14	17	1	116	128
Minnesota-Duluth	24	10	14	0	.417	98	106		34	16	17	1	147	146
North Dakota	26	10	15	1	.404	92	116		33	14	17	2	123	141
Colorado College	18	7	11	0	.389	81	100		29	11	17	1	142	168
Michigan	22	5	17	0	.227	77	116		30	9	21	0	118	147
Championship: Minnesota, Denver † indicates conference regular season champion * indicates conference tournament champion

Independent game results

• 11/13: Western Ontario - Bowling Green 3:2 OT
• 11/14: Bowling Green - Western Ontario 7:6 OT
• 11/20: Air Force - Ohio University 3:2 OT
• 11/20: Bowling Green - Waterloo Lutheran (ON) 11:4
• 11/20: Michigan Tech - Notre Dame 5:2
• 11/21: Michigan Tech - Notre Dame 5:4 OT
• 11/21: Bowling Green - Waterloo Lutheran (ON) 8:1
• 11/21: Air Force - Ohio University 4:3 OT
• 11/26: Air Force - Wisconsin-Superior 4:0
• 11/26: St. Lawrence - Bowling Green 6:5 - North Country Festival
• 11/27: Clarkson - Bowling Green 5:2 - "
• 11/27: Ohio University - St. Clair 4:2
• 11/27: Air Force - Wisconsin-Superior 9:2
• 11/28: New Hampshire - Bowling Green 6:4
• 12/4: Ohio University - Western Michigan 8:2
• 12/4: St. Louis - Air Force 7:4
• 12/5: Ohio University - Western Michigan 15:3
• 12/6: St. Louis - Air Force 5:3
• 12/11: Air Force - Wisconsin-Superior 13:4
• 12/11: Michigan State - Notre Dame 10:5
• 12/12: Notre Dame - Michigan State 4:3
• 12/12: Air Force - Wisconsin-Superior 8:5
• 12/12: Lake Superior State - Bowling Green 4:3
• 12/13: Lake Superior State - Bowling Green 7:2
• 12/18: Ohio University - Boston State 4:2 - Merrimack Invitational
• 12/19: Ohio University - Merrimack 6:3 - "
• 12/19: Notre Dame - Wisconsin 6:5
• 12/20: Notre Dame - Wisconsin 3:3 OT
• 12/28: Notre Dame - Northeastern 4:1 - Boston Arena Christmas Tournament
• 12/29: Boston University - Notre Dame 7:3 - "
• 12/30: Notre Dame - Boston College 5:3 - "
• 1/2: St. Louis - Ohio University 7:4
• 1/2: Michigan State - Bowling Green 7:2
• 1/3: Michigan State - Bowling Green 6:2
• 1/4: Ohio University - St. Louis 5:4
• 1/6: Clarkson - Ohio University 7:4
• 1/8: Bowling Green - Clarkson 7:4
• 1/8: Notre Dame - Air Force 5:4
• 1/9: Notre Dame - Air Force 4:2
• 1/9: Clarkson - Bowling Green 6:3
• 1/9: Ohio University - St. Clair (ON) 6:2
• 1/12: Colorado College - Notre Dame 6:1
• 1/13: Notre Dame - Colorado College 8:6
• 1/15: Colorado College - Air Force 8:5
• 1/15: Denver - Notre Dame 6:3
• 1/16: Denver - Notre Dame 4:2
• 1/16: Colorado College - Air Force 7:7 OT
• 1/16: Boston University - Bowling Green 6:1
• 1/22: Ohio State - Air Force 3:2
• 1/22: Notre Dame - North Dakota 6:5 OT
• 1/23: North Dakota - Notre Dame 7:1
• 1/23: Air Force - Ohio State 5:2
• 1/29: St. Louis - Ohio University 3:2
• 1/29: Bowling Green - Guelph (ON) 6:4
• 1/29: Air Force - Royal Military College (ON) 4:2
• 1/29: Michigan State - Notre Dame 6:3
• 1/30: Michigan State - Notre Dame 6:4
• 1/30: Air Force - Royal Military College (ON) 5:5 OT
• 1/30: Bowling Green - Guelph (ON) 5:4
• 1/30: St. Louis - Ohio University 5:4
• 2/3: Bowling Green - St. Clair (ON) 10:2
• 2/5: Ohio University - Illinois-Chicago 7:3
• 2/5: Bowling Green - Western Michigan 8:2
• 2/5: Gustavus Adolphus - Air Force 5:4
• 2/5: Denver - Notre Dame 4:3
• 2/6: Notre Dame - Denver 4:2
• 2/6: Air Force - Gustavus Adolphus 6:5
• 2/6: Bowling Green - Western Michigan 9:0
• 2/6: Ohio University - Illinois-Chicago 16:0
• 2/12: Ohio University - Lake Forest 9:1
• 2/12: Air Force - Colorado College 7:4
• 2/12: Notre Dame - Minnesota-Duluth 5:5 OT
• 2/13: Minnesota-Duluth - Notre Dame 6:3
• 2/13: Colorado College - Air Force 8:5
• 2/13: Ohio University - Lake Forest 9:3
• 2/19: Air Force - Ohio State 4:0
• 2/19: Notre Dame - Michigan 4:2
• 2/20: Notre Dame - Michigan 5:4
• 2/20: Ohio State - Air Force 5:1
• 2/26: Bowling Green - Notre Dame 5:1
• 2/26: Air Force - St. Louis 6:4
• 2/27: Air Force - St. Louis 7:6 OT
• 2/27: Bowling Green - Notre Dame 3:2
• 3/5: Air Force - Ohio University 4:3
• 3/6: Air Force - Ohio University 5:4
• 3/6: St. Louis - Bowling Green 6:3
• 3/6: US Nationals - Notre Dame 7:5
• 3/7: US Nationals - Notre Dame 4:2
• 3/7: St. Louis - Bowling Green 4:4 OT
• 3/12: Notre Dame - Air Force 5:0
• 3/13: Notre Dame - Air Force 4:1
• Michigan - St. Louis 7:4
• Michigan - St. Louis 6:4
• Boston - St. Louis 8:0
• Boston - St. Louis 9:1
• Ohio State - St. Louis 5:3 - listed in St. Louis's Yearbook, but not OSU's
• Ohio State - St. Louis 6:3 - "
• St. Louis - University of Toronto (ON) 4:4 OT
• St. Louis - University of Toronto (ON) 8:7
• Boston College - St. Louis 9:5
• St. Louis - Princeton 6:2
• Lake Superior State - St. Louis 6:4
• Lake Superior State - St. Louis 3:2
• Denver - St. Louis 9:2
• Denver - St. Louis 6:5 OT
• Lake Superior State - St. Louis 6:1
• Lake Superior State - St. Louis 5:3
• Loyola - St. Louis 6:2
• Loyola - St. Louis 4:2
• St. Louis - Ohio State 4:2 - listed in OSU Yearbook, but not St. Louis's
• Ohio State - St. Louis 5:4 - "
• Ohio State - St. Louis 7:4 - "
• Ohio State - Ryerson Tech 12:3
• Michigan State - Ohio State 4:2
• Michigan State - Ohio State 6:1
• Ohio State - St. Clair (ON) 9:2
• Ohio State - Detroit 11:1
• Ohio State - Detroit 17:3
• Ohio State - Lake Forest 6:1
• Ohio State - Lake Forest 7:2
• Ohio State - Colorado 5:0
• Ohio State - Western Michigan 13:1
• Ohio State - Western Michigan 13:4
• Alaska-Fairbanks - Gonzaga 6:4
• Alaska-Fairbanks - Gonzaga 7:5
• University of British Columbia JV - Alaska-Fairbanks 7:1
• University of British Columbia JV - Alaska-Fairbanks 4:2

Midwest Collegiate Hockey Association

• 12/4: Bowling Green - Ohio State 4:0
• 12/5: Ohio State - Bowling Green 5:1
• 1/15: Ohio State - Ohio University 5:3
• 1/22: Bowling Green - Ohio University 6:1
• 1/23: Bowling Green - Ohio University 8:4
• 2/12: Bowling Green - Ohio State 3:2
• 2/13: Bowling Green - Ohio State 5:3
• 2/19: Bowling Green - Ohio University 6:4
• 2/20: Bowling Green - Ohio University 7:3
• Ohio State - Ohio University 1:0
• 2/26: Ohio University - Ohio State 3:2
• 2/27: Ohio State - Ohio University 5:3

This was an informal league composed of Bowling Green, Ohio, and Ohio State.

Anchorage City League

• Alaska-Fairbanks - Alaska Methodist 5:4
• Alaska-Fairbanks - Texaco Chiefs 3:3
• First National Bank Blades - Alaska-Fairbanks 9:3
• Alaska-Fairbanks - Texaco Chiefs 8:1
• Alaska-Fairbanks - Texaco Chiefs 3:0
• Alaska-Fairbanks - Hohn Plumbers 3:1
• Alaska Methodist - Alaska-Fairbanks 9:5
• Alaska Methodist - Alaska-Fairbanks 10:4
• First National Bank Blades - Alaska-Fairbanks 9:2
• Alaska-Fairbanks - Hohn Plumbers 5:2
• Alaska-Fairbanks - Hohn Plumbers 9:2
• Alaska-Fairbanks - Hohn Plumbers 3:0
• Hohn Plumbers - Alaska-Fairbanks 9:5
• First National Bank Blades - Alaska-Fairbanks 6:2
• Alaska Methodist - Alaska-Fairbanks 8:0
• Alaska Methodist - Alaska-Fairbanks 6:4

Alaska State Championship

• First Bational Bank Blades - Alaska-Fairbanks 7:5 OT
• Alaska Methodist - Alaska-Fairbanks 12:2
• Hohn Plumbers - Alaska-Fairbanks 8:4

ECAC Tournament

The tournament featured three rounds of play, all of which were single-elimination. The top eight teams, based on winning percentage, qualified to participate in the tournament. In the quarterfinals the first seed and eighth seed, the second seed and seventh seed, the third seed and sixth seed and the fourth seed and fifth seed played against one another. In the semifinals, the highest seed plays the lowest remaining seed while the two remaining teams play with the winners advancing to the championship game and the losers advancing to the third place game.

	Quarterfinals March 9					Semifinals March 12					Third Place
	1	Boston University	11
	8	Rensselaer	0
						1	Boston University	2
						4	Harvard	4
	2	Clarkson	5
	7	Pennsylvania	2
											2	Clarkson	4
											4	Harvard	7
	3	Cornell	6
	6	Providence	3
						2	Clarkson	4		Third place
						3	Cornell	1
	4	Harvard	4								1	Boston University	6
	5	Brown	3								3	Cornell	5

Note: * denotes overtime period(s)

WCHA Tournament

The top eight teams in the WCHA, according to their final conference standings, were eligible for the tournament and were seeded No. 1 through No. 8. The eight teams were then divided into two separate groups by placing all even-numbered seeds in one group (2, 4, 6, 8) and the odd-numbered seeds (1, 3, 5, 7) in the other group. Using the location of the top seeds in each of the groups, the odd-numbered group (containing Michigan Tech) was placed in the east region which was held at the Dane County Coliseum while the odd-numbered grouping (containing Denver) was placed in the west region which was held at the DU Arena. Once each regional group was set the teams were reseeded No. 1 to No. 4 according to their final conference standings. In the first round the first and fourth seeds and the second and third seeds in each region were matched in a single game with the winners advancing to their regional final games. The winners of the two championship games were declared as co-conference tournament champions.

East Regional

Semifinals

• 3/11: North Dakota - Michigan Tech 6:4
• 3/11: Minnesota - Wisconsin 4:3

Final

• 3/13: Minnesota - North Dakota 5:2

West Regional

Semifinals

• 3/11: Denver - Colorado College 6:3
• 3/12: Minnesota-Duluth - Michigan State 4:3

Final

• 3/13: Denver - Minnesota-Duluth 9:3

NCAA Tournament

Qualifying teams

Four teams qualified for the tournament, two each from the eastern and western regions. The ECAC tournament champion and the two WCHA tournament co-champions received automatic bids into the tournament. An at-large bid was offered to a second eastern team based upon both their ECAC tournament finish as well as their regular season record.

East							West
Seed	School	Conference	Record	Berth type	Appearance	Last bid	Seed	School	Conference	Record	Berth type	Appearance	Last bid
1	Harvard	ECAC Hockey	18–6–1	Tournament champion	5th	1969	1	Denver	WCHA	24–9–1	Tournament co-champion	9th	1969
2	Boston University	ECAC Hockey	26–2–1	At-Large	7th	1967	2	Minnesota	WCHA	13–16–1	Tournament co-champion	4th	1961

Results

Semifinals

• 3/18: Boston University - Denver 4:2
• 3/19: Minnesota - Harvard 6:5 OT

Consolation Game

• 3/20: Denver - Harvard 1:0

Championship Game

• 3/20: Boston University - Minnesota 4:2