The 1998–99 NCAA Division I men's ice hockey season began on October 3, 1998, and concluded with the 1999 NCAA Division I Men's Ice Hockey Tournament's championship game on April 3, 1999, at the Arrowhead Pond of Anaheim in Anaheim, California. This was the 52nd season in which an NCAA ice hockey championship was held and is the 105th year overall where an NCAA school fielded a team.
The 1998-99 season was the inaugural year for Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference's hockey division. Because only Canisius, Fairfield, and Iona were full members of the MAAC, five additional associate members were included to make the conference viable. All five teams had been part of ECAC lower classifications in the past (as had Canisius, Fairfield and Iona) and were promoted to Division I for the 1998-99 season.
Season Outlook Pre-season polls
The top teams in the nation as ranked before the start of the season.
The WMPL Baker's Dozen poll was rebranded the WMPL/D&N Bank Baker's Dozen poll and was voted on by coaches. The U.S. College Hockey Online poll was voted on by coaches, media, and NHL scouts. The USA Today/American Hockey Magazine poll was voted on by coaches and media.
WMPL PollRankTeam1 Boston College (7)2 North Dakota (2)3 Maine4 Colorado College5 Notre Dame6 Michigan State7 (tie) New Hampshire7 (tie) Northern Michigan9 Michigan10 (tie) St. Lawrence10 (tie) Clarkson12 Princeton13 Minnesota USCHO PollRankTeam1 Boston College (6)2 Michigan (11)3 North Dakota (10)4 Ohio State (2)5 Michigan State6 Colorado College (1)7 Clarkson8 Maine9 Boston University10 Wisconsin USA Today PollRankTeam1 Boston College2 North Dakota3 Colorado College4 Maine5 Michigan State6 Northern Michigan7 Notre Dame8 New Hampshire9 Michigan10 St. Lawrence
Regular season
Season tournaments Tournament Dates Teams Champion Ice Breaker Tournament October 9–10 4 Boston College JCPenney Classic October 24–25 4 Maine Governor's Cup November 27–28 4 Maine College Hockey Showcase November 27–29 4 Great Lakes Invitational December 26–27 4 Michigan State Auld Lang Syne Classic December 27–28 4 Vermont Badger Showdown December 27–28 4 Bowling Green Denver Cup December 27–28 4 Denver Mariucci Classic December 27–28 4 Princeton Syracuse Invitational December 27–28 4 Niagara Rensselaer Holiday Tournament December 28–29 4 Rensselaer Silverado Shootout January 2–3 4 Massachusetts–Lowell Beanpot February 1, 8 4 Boston University
Standings
Final regular season polls The WMPL poll was released before the conference tournaments. The USA Today and USCHO polls were released before the NCAA tournament. WMPL / D&N Bank PollRankingTeam1 North Dakota (11)2 Michigan State3 Maine4 New Hampshire5 Colorado College6 Clarkson7 Boston College8 St. Lawrence9 Michigan10 Ohio State11 Denver12 Notre Dame13 Northern Michigan USA Today / USA Hockey Magazine PollRankingTeam1 North Dakota2 New Hampshire3 Michigan State4 Maine5 Boston College6 Clarkson7 Michigan8 Colorado College9 Denver10 St. Lawrence USCHO PollRankingTeam1 North Dakota (28)2 New Hampshire (2)3 Michigan State4 Maine5 Boston College6 Clarkson7 Colorado College8 Denver9 Michigan10 St. Lawrence
1999 NCAA Tournament
Note: * denotes overtime period(s)
Player stats
Scoring leaders The following players led the league in points at the conclusion of the season.
GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; PIM = Penalty minutes
Player Class Team GP G A Pts PIM Senior New Hampshire 41 34 51 85 38 Senior North Dakota 38 28 41 69 49 Senior Colorado College 42 25 41 66 28 Senior Maine 41 23 42 65 24 Junior New Hampshire 41 23 42 65 38 Freshman Iona 33 33 30 63 38 Freshman New Hampshire 41 31 30 61 34 Sophomore Boston College 39 27 33 60 46 Junior Boston College 43 32 25 57 56 Senior Rensselaer 36 22 34 56 35 Senior Merrimack 36 17 39 56 44
Leading goaltenders The following goaltenders led the league in goals against average at the end of the regular season while playing at least 33% of their team's total minutes.
GP = Games played; Min = Minutes played; W = Wins; L = Losses; OT = Overtime/shootout losses; GA = Goals against; SO = Shutouts; SV% = Save percentage; GAA = Goals against average
Player Class Team GP Min W L OT GA SO SV% GAA Sophomore Michigan State 33 2012 21 5 7 52 3 .928 1.55 Sophomore New Hampshire 22 1338 18 3 1 41 0 .923 1.84 Freshman Holy Cross 221329 15 5 2 49 2 .918 2.21 Freshman Michigan 41 2408 25 10 6 91 3 .905 2.27 Junior Colgate 24 1395 15 7 1 53 1 .923 2.28 Freshman Alaska-Anchorage 29 1692 11 13 5 65 1 .919 2.30 Junior Maine 37 2147 28 6 3 83 3 .910 2.32 Sophomore Ohio State 38 2283 20 14 4 88 3 .921 2.34 Sophomore North Dakota 31 1774 22 5 2 70 3 .915 2.37 Senior St. Lawrence 37 2206 22 12 3 88 3 .930 2.39
Awards
NCAA Award RecipientHobey Baker Memorial Award Jason Krog, New HampshireSpencer T. Penrose Award Dick Umile, New HampshireMost Outstanding Player in NCAA Tournament Alfie Michaud, MaineAHCA All-American Teams East First Team Position West First TeamEric Heffler, St. Lawrence GJoe Blackburn, Michigan StateDavid Cullen, Maine DScott Swanson, Colorado CollegeMike Mottau, Boston College DBrad Williamson, North DakotaBrian Gionta, Boston College FJason Blake, North DakotaSteve Kariya, Maine FBrian Swanson, Colorado CollegeJason Krog, New Hampshire FMike York, Michigan State East Second Team Position West Second Team Michel Larocque, Boston University GJeff Maund, Ohio StateJayme Filipowicz, New Hampshire DBenoit Cotnoir, Notre DameWillie Mitchell, Clarkson DMike Weaver, Michigan StateErik Cole, Clarkson FHugo Boisvert, Ohio StateJeff Hamilton, Yale FPaul Comrie, DenverRejean Stringer, Merrimack FJay Panzer, North Dakota
CCHA Awards RecipientPlayer of the Year Mike York, Michigan StateBest Defensive Forward Mike York, Michigan StateBest Defensive Defenseman Mike Weaver, Michigan StateBest Offensive Defenseman Mike Jones, Bowling GreenRookie of the Year Mike Comrie, MichiganCoach of the Year Ron Mason, Michigan StateTerry Flanagan Memorial Award Ernie Hartlieb, MiamiMost Valuable Player in Tournament Mark Kosick, MichiganAll-CCHA Teams First Team Position Second TeamJeff Maund, Ohio State GJoe Blackburn, Michigan StateMike Weaver, Michigan State DMike Jones, Bowling GreenBenoit Cotnoir, Notre Dame DAndrè Signoretti, Ohio StateHugo Boisvert, Ohio State FDan Price, Bowling GreenMike York, Michigan State FBen Simon, Notre DameAdam Edinger, Bowling Green FJ. P. Vigier, Northern Michigan Rookie Team Position Josh Blackburn, Michigan GJason Crain, Ohio State DJeff Jillson, Michigan DMike Comrie, Michigan FDavid Inman, Notre Dame FAdam Hall, Michigan State FChad Thuer, Northern Michigan F
ECAC Award RecipientPlayer of the Year Eric Heffler, St. LawrenceRookie of the Year Brandon Dietrich, St. LawrenceCoach of the Year Joe Marsh, St. LawrenceBest Defensive Defenseman Jeff Burgoyne, CornellBest Defensive Forward Syl Apps III, PrincetonKen Dryden Award Eric Heffler, St. LawrenceMost Outstanding Player in Tournament Willie Mitchell, ClarksonAll-ECAC Hockey Teams First Team Position Second Team Eric Heffler, St. Lawrence GAlex Westlund, YaleJeff Burgoyne, Cornell DSteve Shirreffs, PrincetonWillie Mitchell, Clarkson DJason Reid, VermontDan Riva, Rensselaer FAndy McDonald, ColgateErik Cole, Clarkson FJeff Halpern, PrincetonJeff Hamilton, Yale FBob Prier, St. Lawrence Rookie Team Position Shawn Grant, Clarkson GKerry Ellis-Toddington, Clarkson DRay DiLaurio, St. Lawrence DDenis Ladouceur, Cornell FJamie Herrington, Dartmouth FMatt Murley, Rensselaer FBrandon Deitrich, St. Lawrence F
Hockey East Award RecipientPlayer of the Year Jason Krog, New HampshireRookie of the Year Darren Haydar, New HampshireBob Kullen Coach of the Year Award Dick Umile, New HampshireLen Ceglarski Sportsmanship Award Steve Kariya, MaineBest Defensive Forward Doug Nolan, Massachusetts-LowellBest Defensive Defenseman Steve O'Brien, New HampshireWilliam Flynn Tournament Most Valuable Player Blake Bellefeuille, Boston CollegeAll-Hockey East Teams First Team Position Second TeamMichel Larocque, Boston University GTy Conklin, New HampshireJayme Filipowicz, New Hampshire DMike Mottau, Boston CollegeDavid Cullen, Maine DAnthony Cappelletti, Massachusetts-LowellBrian Gionta, Boston College FMike Omicioli, ProvidenceJason Krog, New Hampshire FRejean Stringer, MerrimackSteve Kariya, Maine FDarren Haydar, New Hampshire Rookie Team Position Ty Conklin, New Hampshire GPeter Metcalf, Maine DJim Fahey, Northeastern DDarren Haydar, New Hampshire FBarrett Heisten, Maine FWillie Levesque, Northeastern FGreg Classen, Merrimack F
MAAC Award RecipientOffensive Player of the Year Ryan Carter, IonaDefensive Player of the Year Dan Ennis, QuinnipiacGoaltender of the Year Scott Simpson, Holy CrossOffensive Rookie of the Year Ryan Carter, IonaDefensive Rookie of the Year Dan Ennis, QuinnipiacCoach of the Year Gary Wright, American InternationalTournament Most Valuable Player Mike Maguire, Holy CrossAll-MAAC Teams First Team Position Second TeamScott Simpson, Holy Cross GChance Thede, American InternationalJ.C. Wells, Quinnipiac GDan Ennis, Quinnipiac DRob Martin, ConnecticutDerek Gilham, Canisius DMike Maguire, Holy CrossKris Cumming, Quinnipiac DRyan Carter, Iona FMike Sowa, American InternationalGeoff Angell, Connecticut FNeil Breen, QuinnipiacChris Fattey, Holy Cross FDavid Deeves, CanisiusChad Poliquin, Quinnipiac F Rookie Team Position Jon Chain, Connecticut GDan Ennis, Quinnipiac DMike Boylan, Connecticut DJoel Tarvudd, Canisius DRyan Carter, Iona FNeil Breen, Quinnipiac FPatrick Rissmiller, Holy Cross FDavid Deeves, Canisius F
WCHA Award RecipientPlayer of the Year Jason Blake, North DakotaDefensive Player of the Year Brad Williamson, North DakotaRookie of the Year Gregg Naumenko, Alaska-AnchorageStudent-Athlete of the Year Kyle McLaughlin, St. Cloud State Scott Swanson, Colorado CollegeCoach of the Year Dean Blais, North DakotaMost Valuable Player in Tournament Stephen Wagner, DenverAll-WCHA Teams First Team Position Second TeamGregg Naumenko, Alaska-Anchorage GKarl Goehring, North DakotaBrad Williamson, North Dakota DDan Peters, Colorado CollegeScott Swanson, Colorado College DTrevor Hammer, North DakotaBrian Swanson, Colorado College FJay Panzer, North DakotaJason Blake, North Dakota FDarren Clark, Colorado CollegePaul Comrie, Denver FJeff Panzer, North Dakota Third Team Position Rookie TeamGraham Melanson, Wisconsin GGregg Naumenko, Alaska-AnchorageJordan Leopold, Minnesota DJordan Leopold, MinnesotaJeff Dessner, Wisconsin DDavid Tanabe, WisconsinWyatt Smith, Minnesota FSteve Cygan, Alaska-AnchorageJames Patterson, Denver FJesse Heerema, Colorado CollegeLee Goren, North Dakota FTyler Arnason, St. Cloud State
1999 NHL entry draft