Michigan Ice Hockey: 1996 NCAA Champion
On March 30, 1996, the University of Michigan ice hockey program won its eighth NCAA national championship -- its first since 1964 -- in remarkable fashion, defeating Colorado College, 3-2 in overtime, in Cincinnati, Ohio. Brendan Morrison's game-winning goal gave head coach Red Berenson his 300th U-M career victory and capped off a tremendous run that saw the Wolverines win their final nine games, including a 4-3 triumph over No. 4-ranked Lake Superior State in the CCHA Tournament final followed by NCAA Tournament wins over No. 5 Minnesota, No. 3 Boston University and No. 1 Colorado College.
The Wolverines finished 34-7-2 overall, matching the team record for most victories in a season (set in 1990-91 and tied again in 1997-98). U-M shared the CCHA regular-season title with a 22-6-2 mark, and the Wolverines took home championship trophies from the CCHA Tournament as well as the Great Lakes Invitational. Michigan's potent offense averaged 5.56 goals per game, led by five 20-goal scorers in Jason Botterill (32), Morrison (28), Bill Muckalt (28), John Madden (27) and Warren Luhning (20), while goaltender Marty Turco posted a 2.16 goals-against average and had a hand in all of the team's school-record nine shutouts.
25-Year Anniversary Video (2021)
Road to the Championship
Morrison's OT Winner Gives Wolverines NCAA Title
| 3/30/1996 | NCAA Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | OT | F |
 Michigan |
1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 3 |
 Colorado College |
0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Riverfront Coliseum • Cincinnati, Ohio | Recap | |||||
| 3/28/1996 | NCAA Semifinal | 1 | 2 | 3 | F |
| Michigan |
2 | 1 | 1 | 4 |
 Boston University |
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Riverfront Coliseum • Cincinnati, Ohio | Recap | ||||
| 3/24/1996 | NCAA Quarterfinal | 1 | 2 | 3 | F |
| Michigan |
1 | 2 | 1 | 4 |
 Minnesota |
2 | 0 | 1 | 3 |
| Munn Ice Arena • East Lansing, Mich. | Recap | ||||
Players and Coaches
Head Coach
12th Season
Assistant Coach
8th Season
Assistant Coach
4th Season
John
Arnold
#20 • F • 5-9 • Sr.
Sudbury, Ontario
Craig
Assenmacher
#14 • C • 5-9 • Fr.
Sylvania, Ohio
Bubba
Berenzweig
#3 • D • 6-2 • Fr.
Arlington Heights, Ill.
Jason
Botterill
#19 • LW • 6-4 • Jr.
Winnipeg, Manitoba
Peter
Bourke
#5 • D • 6-0 • Jr.
Grosse Pointe Farms, Mich.
Justin
Clark
#7 • RW • 6-3 • Fr.
Grand Rapids, Mich.
Greg
Crozier
#13 • LW • 6-3 • Fr.
Williamsville, N.Y.
Greg
Daddario
#30 • G • 5-7 • Fr.
Grosse Pointe Farms, Mich.
Chris
Fox
#26 • D • 6-0 • So.
Grosse Pointe Farms, Mich.
Chris
Frescoln
#4 • D • 6-2 • Jr.
Milford, Mich.
Steven
Halko
#24 • D • 6-1 • Sr.
Bolton, Ontario
Bobby
Hayes
#25 • C • 5-10 • Fr.
Westland, Mich.
Matt
Herr
#8 • LW/C • 6-1 • So.
Alpine, N.J.
Kevin
Hilton
#10 • C • 5-10 • Sr.
Monroe, Mich.
Mike
Legg
#15 • RW/C • 6-0 • Jr.
London, Ontario
Warren
Luhning
#28 • RW • 6-1 • Jr.
Calgary, Alberta
John
Madden
#18 • LW • 5-11 • Jr.
Barrie, Ontario
Gregg
Malicke
#29 • G • 6-0 • So.
Rochester Hills, Mich.
Brendan
Morrison
#9 • C • 5-11 • Jr.
Pitt Meadows, B.C.
Bill
Muckalt
#16 • RW • 6-0 • So.
Williams Lake, B.C.
Sean
Ritchlin
#17 • RW • 6-0 • Fr.
Conseco, N.Y.
Dale
Rominski
#23 • RW • 6-2 • Fr.
Farmington Hills, Mich.
Mark
Sakala
#2 • D • 6-0 • Sr.
Riverview, Mich.
Harold
Schock
#6 • D • 5-10 • Jr.
Okemos, Mich.
Blake
Sloan
#27 • D • 5-9 • Jr.
Morton Grove, Ill.
Marty
Turco
#35 • G • 6-0 • So.
Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario
Hail to the Victors!
Michigan's 1996 national title earned the team a trip to the White House and visit with Vice President Al Gore.
Content Archive
20-Year Anniversary (2016)
• Red's First Champs Recall Winning It All in Cincinnati (3/25/2016)
Mike Legg's Lacrosse-Style Goal
• Watch: Legends Score-O: Turco, Morrison and Legg (10/21/2016)
• Watch: Legg still scoring mind-blowing goals (ESPN.com)
• The coolest goal ever scored in hockey (4/8/2010, ESPN.com)
1995-96 Season
• Results
• Roster
• Statistics
