That's the day of the DECC's final men's hockey game, as UMD hosts Denver. While fans fight for the right to unbolt their seats and take them home, a number of UMD hockey legends will be honored and (hopefully) we'll get to see a few of them in the flesh.
Ahead of that big night, UMD has announced its All-DECC team, chosen by a group of UMD alumni.
As you can expect, there are some great names on the list, representing a lot of UMD hockey history. Read all about it after the jump.
Here is the list from UMD:
Over a dozen All-Americans, including a quartet of Hobey Baker Memorial Award winners, are among the 21 former University of Minnesota Duluth stars who make up the All-DECC Team. The team, which was voted on solely by Bulldog hockey alumni, will be recognized during the first intermission of UMD’s final game ever at the DECC on Dec. 4 against the University of Denver. The DECC has served as the home of the Bulldogs since the 1966-67 season and will give way to the new $70-million AMSOIL Arena later that month.
Name Pos Years Hometown
Matt Christensen C 1982-86 Hoyt Lakes, Minn.
Keith “Huffer” Christiansen C 1963-67 Fort Frances, Ontario
Curt Giles D 1975-79 The Pas, Manitoba
Guy Gosselin D 1982-87 Rochester, Minn.
John Harrington W 1975-79 Virginia, Minn.
Brett Hauer D 1989-93 Richfield, Minn.
Brett Hull W 1984-86 West Vancouver, British Columbia
Jim Johnson D 1981-85 New Hope, Minn.
Tom Kurvers D 1980-84 Bloomington, Minn.
Walt Ledingham W 1969-72 Weyburn, Saskatchewan
Dan Lempe C 1976-80 Grand Rapids, Minn.
Junior Lessard W 2000-04 St. Joseph deBeauce, Quebec
Norm Maciver D 1982-86 Thunder Bay, Ont.
Chris Marinucci W 1990-94 Grand Rapids, Minn.
Bob Mason G 1981-83 International Falls, Minn.
Mark Pavelich C 1976-79 Eveleth, Minn.
Derek Plante C 1989-93 Cloquet, Minn.
Shjon Podein W 1987-90 Rochester, Minn.
Glenn “Chico” Resch G 1968-71 Regina, Saskatchewan
Alex Stalock G 2006-09 South St. Paul, Minn.
Bill Watson W 1982-85 Powerview, Manitoba
Matt Christensen (Center • Hoyt Lakes, Minn.) – Received All-American (second team) honors as a senior in 1985-86 and was a two-time All-WCHA second team honoree (1983-84 and 1984-85) ... currently shares the No. 2 spot on UMD’s scoring charts with 219 points in 168 games … had his hockey career cut short after suffering a stroke in the final month of the 1985-86 regular season -- had missed only two games in three-plus years with the Bulldogs to that point … served as an alternate team captain that year and anchored the most potent power play (they clicked at a school-record 36.5 percent) in UMD history ... rolled up 77 points (the sixth highest single-season yield in club history) as a junior ... was a St. Louis Blues draft pick.
Keith “Huffer” Christiansen (Center • Fort Frances, Ontario) – Became the first Bulldog to lead the WCHA in scoring and as well as being named its Most Valuable Player … accomplished both of those feats during his senior season while also earning a spot on the NCAA All-American team… led UMD in scoring an unprecedented four consecutive years … ranks second among Bulldogs all-time in points per game average (1.92) … still owns a share of the UMD record for most points in a game (six) which he established against Minnesota on Nov. 19, 1966 in the first Bulldog game ever contested at the Duluth Arena (DECC) ... was the recipient of UMD’s Outstanding Senior Athlete award in 1966-67 ... captain of the silver medal-winning United States Olympic Team at the 1972 Games in Sapporo, Japan ... played professional hockey with the Minnesota Fighting Saints of the World Hockey Association (1973-75) … had his No. 9 jersey officially retired (a Bulldog athletic department first) on Jan. 30, 1988 ... is a charter member of the UMD Athletic Hall of Fame.
Curt Giles (Defenseman • The Pas, Manitoba) -- Was two-time NCAA All-American and All-WCHA first team selection (1977-78 and 1978-79) ... captained the Bulldogs both of those seasons, including in 1978-79 when UMD placed third in the final WCHA standings – its highest finish ever to that point ... still shares the UMD record (with fellow All-DECC team member Keith "Huffer" Christiansen) for most points (six, which he accomplished twice) and assists (six) in a game ... was named UMD’s Outstanding Senior Athlete for 1978-79 ... joined the Minnesota North Stars in 1979, launching a NHL career which has spanned 14 years ... was a member of two Stanley Cup finalists teams while with the North Stars (1981 and 1991) ... also played with the New York Rangers and St. Louis Blues … was a three-time recipient of the Bill Masterton Memorial Cup as the North Stars' Most Valuable Player (1980-81, 1984-85, 1988-89) ... was one of the first 12 individuals to be enshrined into the UMD Athletic Hall of Fame.
Guy Gosselin (Defenseman • Rochester, Minn.) – Twice secured All-WCHA honors (second team as a senior in 1986-87 and honorable mention one year prior) ... served as team captain with the 1986-87 Bulldogs …. was a blueline fixture on pair of WCHA playoff and regular season championship clubs and two NCAA playoff qualifiers … skated for the U.S. at both the 1988 and 1992 Winter Olympics and in three IIHF World Championships (1986, 1990 and 1991) … played with the NHL's Winnipeg Jets during the 1987-88 season.
John Harrington (Wing • Virgina, Minn.) – Racked up 138 points (65 goals and 73 assists) in 134 lifetime games with the Bulldogs ... established club records for shorthanded goals in a season (five in both 1977-78 and 1978-79) and a career (12) and fastest two shorthanded goals (40 seconds apart vs. Michigan on Feb. 11, 1978) ... finished fourth in the 1978-79 WCHA scoring race as an alternate team captain while becoming just the second Bulldog to ever crack the 70-point mark in a single season (72 points in just 40 outings) ... earned UMD's Top Scholar Athlete Award in 1978-79 ... was a member of the gold-medal winning USA team at the 1980 Olympics and also participated for Uncle Sam in the 1984 Games … was inducted into the UMD Athletic Hall of Fame in 2001.
Brett Hauer (Defense • Richfield, Minn.) – Attained All-American first team acclaim in 1992-93 after scoring more points (a career-high 56) than any other blueliner in the country that winter … was the first Bulldog to be bestowed with the WCHA’s Student-Athlete of the Year Award as a senior … corralled a spot on the 1992-93 All-WCHA first team … ranks eighth among all Bulldog defensemen in career scoring (21 goals and 73 assists for 94 points in 140 games) … was the recipient of UMD’s Top Male Scholar Athlete Award for 1992-93 … patrolled the Team USA blueline at the 1994 Winter Olympics as well as the 1993,1995, 2003 and 2005 IIHF World Championships … played three seasons in the National Hockey League with Edmonton and Nashville.
Brett Hull (Wing • West Vancouver, British Columbia) - Starred with the Bulldogs for a pair of memorable seasons and wound up posting the best career goals per game average (0.93) in team history … was chosen the WCHA’s Freshman of the Year in 1984-85 after leading all league newcomers in points while setting a Bulldog single-season mark for goals by a rookie with 32 … amassed a team-record 52 goals in just 42 games the following winter en route to landing All-WCHA first team honors and becoming a Hobey Baker Memorial Award finalist … also established Bulldog records for hat tricks (7), multiple-goal games (13) and power play scores (20) in one season … closed out his UMD playing days with 84 goals and 60 assists for 144 points in 90 outings … signed on with Calgary for the 1985 Stanley Cup playoffs and went on to play 19 more years in the National Hockey League before calling it a career five games into the 2005-06 season as a member of the Phoenix Coyotes … was a nine-time NHL All-Star game participant and the recipient of the Hart Memorial Trophy as the league’s Most Valuable Player in 1990-91 … registered 741 goals and 650 assists in 1,269 regular season NHL games -- those 741 goals placed him behind only Wayne Gretzky and Gordie Howe on the NHL’s all-time list … won a pair of Stanley Cups in 1999 with the Dallas Stars and in 2002 with the Detroit Red Wings and skated for the U.S. Team that captured the 1996 World Cup of hockey title and a silver medal at the 2002 Winter Olympic Games … his international playing resume also includes stints with the U.S at the 1998 Olympics, the 1991 Canada Cup and the 1986 World Ice Hockey Championships … is a member of the Hockey Hall of Fame (Class of 2009), the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame (2008) and the UMD Athletic Hall of Fame (1997).
Jim Johnson (Defenseman • New Hope, Minn.) - Was a fixture on the UMD blueline for four seasons and skated a regular shift in more games (174) than anyone in team history … captained the Bulldogs to their second straight WCHA regular season and playoff titles in 1984-85 and their second NCAA Championship appearance in as many years … secured All-WCHA honorable mention status as a junior and senior … owns UMD career records for penalties (193) and penalty minutes (402) … joined the National Hockey League’s Pittsburgh Penguins in 1985-86 and went on to see time in 829 regular season games with the Penguins, Minnesota/Dallas Stars, Washington Capitals and Phoenix Coyotes during a 13-year career … represented the U.S. in international competition on seven occasions, including the 1991 Canada Cup.
Tom Kurvers (Defense • Bloomington, Minn.) - Was bestowed with the Hobey Baker Memorial Award – the first of four Bulldogs to be so honored – as a senior in 1983-84 after captaining UMD to its first WCHA regular season and playoff crowns and a runnerup finish at the NCAA Championship … also snared a spot on both the NCAA All-American and All-WCHA first team units … was named the 1983-84 WCHA Most Valuable Player after finishing first in scoring among defensemen in that circuit … is UMD’s all-time point (192) and goal (43) king for blueliners and occupies the No. 9 spot on the club’s overall career scoring charts ... received UMD's Outstanding Senior Athlete award in the spring of 1984... began a distinguished and lengthy NHL career in 1984 which included stops with the Montreal Canadiens (1984-86), Buffalo Sabres (1986-87), New Jersey Devils (1987-89), Toronto Maple Leafs (1989-91), Vancouver Canucks (1991), New York Islanders (1991-94) and Anaheim Mighty Ducks ... his NHL statististical printout included 421 points in 629 regular season games encompassing 11 seasons … was a member of the 1985-86 Stanley Cup champion Montreal Canadiens … competed for Team USA in the 1989 IIHF World Championships in Stockholm … was a charter member of the UMD Athletic Hall of Fame.
Walt Ledingham (Wing • Weyburn, Saskatchewan.) - Earned All-American first-team honors twice – a program first at the time -- during his three-year UMD hockey career ... was an All-WCHA first team selection (and the top vote-getter) in 1970-71 and a member of the league's second team the following year ... left UMD as its No. 2 all-time leading scorer (66 goals and 68 assists for 134 points in 95 games) ... was named the Bulldogs' Most Valuable Player two years in a row (1970-71 and 1971-72) ... landed UMD’s Outstanding Senior Athlete Award for 1971-72 ... passed up his final year of collegiate eligibility to try his hand in the NHL ... spent two years in the Chicago Black Hawks organization (1972-74) and three more seasons with the New York Islanders system (1974-77) ... took part in 15 NHL contests during that span ... was inducted into the UMD Athletic Hall of Fame in 1995.
Dan Lempe (Center • Grand Rapids, Minn.) – Scored more points (222 on 79 goals and 143 assists in 149 games) than anyone in the 67-year history of UMD hockey... was a two-time All-WCHA second team honoree (1976-77 and 1979-80) ... set UMD marks -- which still stand -- for points (64) and assists (40) by a rookie in 1976-77 … placed second among all WCHA newcomers -- and was seventh overall -- in scoring that winter (54 points) ... was chosen the WDAZ-TV WCHA Rookie of the Year in a vote of league players … reigned as the Bulldogs’ leading point-getter as both a freshman (becoming only the second UMD player to accomplish that feat) and as a sophomore ... remains the only Bulldog to surpass the 40-point plateau for four straight seasons … participated in the 1978 and 1979 U.S. Olympic Festivals and skated with the U.S. National Team in 1983 ... was selected by the Colorado Rockies (now the New Jersey Devils) in the 1977 NHL draft ... spent parts of four seasons in the professional ranks after departing UMD ... is a member of the UMD Athletic Hall of Fame (Class of 2004).
Junior Lessard (Wing • St. Joseph deBeauce, Quebec) – Is the latest of UMD’s four Hobey Baker Memorial Award winners, having claimed that coveted honor as a senior in 2003-04 … was both the uscho.com and insidecollegehockey.com national Player of the Year that winter and an American Hockey Coaches Association first team All-American pick … paced all NCAA combatants in scoring (63 points), goals (32) and power play tallies (14) during his farewell collegiate season while helping lead UMD to its first NCAA Frozen Four berth since 1985 and a 28-13-4 overall record… was chosen UMD’s Outstanding Senior Athlete for 2003-04 … made his NHL debut in 2005-06 with the Dallas Stars and subsequently played eight games with them over the next two seasons and 18 more as a member of the 2007-08 Tampa Lightning.
Norm Maciver (Defenseman • Thunder Bay, Ontario) – Holds the distinction of being the first Bulldog to garner All-WCHA acclaim on three occasions (first team in 1984-85 and 1985-86, second team in 1983-84) … is the last two-time All-American (1984-85 and 1985-86) to sport a UMD sweater … helped spark UMD to a pair of WCHA championships (1983-85), three NCAA playoff berths (1982-85), and a 199-50-9 overall record during his four-year stay ... was a 1985-86 Hobey Baker Memorial Award finalist ... set Bulldog records for career assists (152) and goals by a defenseman in one game (4) ... is UMD’s second all-time scoring leader among defenseman (191 points in 165 games) ... won UMD’s Outstanding Male Senior Athlete Award in 1985-86 ... signed with the New York Rangers for the 1986-87 season, commencing a prolonged NHL career ... did NHL time with Hartford (1988-89), Edmonton (1989-92), Ottawa (1992-95), Pittsburgh (1995), Winnipeg (1995-96) and Phoenix (1996-98) ... topped the expansion Ottawa Senators in scoring in 1992-93 … was inducted into the UMD Athletic Hall of Fame in 1997.
Chris Marinucci (Wing • Grand Rapids, Minn.) - Received the Hobey Baker Memorial Award along with three other prestigious honors in 1992-93: NCAA All-American, WCHA Player of the Year, and USA Hockey College Player of the Year ... topped the WCHA in both scoring and goals as a senior team captain en route to being named to the All-WCHA first team ... had a hand in more points (138) during his final two seasons than any other U.S. collegian ... finished his UMD career by skating in a then record-tying 149 consecutive games ... is one of just four Bulldogs to reach the 30-goal mark on two separate occasions ... was chosen UMD's Co-Outstanding Senior Male Athlete for 1993-94 ... went on to play for the NHL’s New York Islanders (1994-95) and Los Angeles Kings (1996-97) ... participated in the 1997 International IIHF World Championships with the U.S. National Team ... his professional hockey resume also included International Hockey League stints with the Denver/Utah Grizzlies (1994-97), the Phoenix Roadrunners (1996-97) and the Chicago Wolves (1997-2000) ... was a member of the 1999 AHL All-Star Team and played on three Turner Cup title clubs (IHL Playoff champion) ... landed the 1999 IHL Man of the Year Award for his exemplary community service and the Ken McKenzie Trophy as the IHL's top American-born rookie in 1994-95 ... played with the Idaho Steelheads of the East Coast Hockey League/ West Coast Hockey League in addition to skating overseas with three teams- Kokudo of Japan, the Berlin Polar Bears, Bjorkloven IF of Sweden, and the Stormar Dragons of the Norwegian Ice Hockey Federation- before calling it a career … was inducted into the UMD Athletic Hall of Fame in 2008.
Bob Mason (Goaltender • International Falls, Minn.) – Put an exclamation point on his stellar two-year Bulldog career in 1982-83 by being selected the WCHA’s Player of the Year and a first team All-WCHA pick ... appeared in 43 of 45 games as a sophomore and turned aside a school-record 1,279 shots (which was, at the time, the fourth highest single-season figure in NCAA history) .... backstopped the 1982-83 Bulldogs to their first-ever NCAA playoff appearance ... was a member of the gold-medal winning U.S. National Team at the 1983 IIHF World Championships and also wore the Team USA crest at the 1987 Canada Cup series ... departed UMD after his sophomore season to play with the 1984 U.S. Olympic Team ... spent eight seasons in the National Hockey League and took part in 150 lifetime regular season and playoff outings with four different clubs — the Washington Capitals, Chicago Blackhawks, Quebec Nordiques and Vancouver Canucks ... appeared in five Stanley Cup playoff games and posted a 2-3 record and a 1.95 goals against average ... also did International Hockey League/American Hockey League stints with the Hershey Bears, Binghamton Whalers, Halifax Citadels, Baltimore Skipjacks, Hamilton Canucks, Fort Wayne Komets and the Milwaukee Admirals ... hung up his professional pads for good after the 1994-95 season … was inducted into the UMD Athletic Hall of Fame in 2005.
Mark Pavelich (Center • Eveleth, Minn.) - Amassed 142 points in 110 games during the three seasons as a Bulldog... was credited with 31 goals and 48 assists for 79 points-- all school single-season records at the time -- in his final year (1978-79) at UMD while helping lead the Bulldogs to their first-ever finish in the WCHA’s upper division (third place) ... nailed down All-American and All-Western Collegiate Hockey Association first team honors in 1978-79 ... passed up senior collegiate season to strut his stuff with the gold medal winning U.S. Olympic Team in 1980 ... collected seven points in seven outings at the historic 1980 Winter Games in Lake Placid, N.Y. ... played parts of seven NHL seasons with the New York Rangers (1981-86), Minnesota North Stars (1986-87) and San Jose Sharks (1991-92) and three years of professional hockey in Europe (Switzerland and Ireland) ... finished his 378-game NHL career with 353 points on 144 goals and 209 assists … was inducted into the UMD Athletic Hall of Fame in 1997.
Derek Plante (Center • Cloquet, Minn.) - Was chosen a first team All-American, a Hobey Baker Memorial Award finalist, the USA Hockey Male Athlete of the Year and the WCHA Player of the Year in 1992-93 after leading the NCAA in scoring with 36 goals and 56 assists for 92 points (for a school-record 2.49 points per game average) ... concluded his playing days with 219 points (96 goals and 123 assists), good for a share of the No. 2 spot on UMD’s all-time charts ... reigned as the Bulldogs’ top point producer for a third year in a row in 1992-93 en route to receiving the team’s Most Valuable Player Award an unprecedented third straight time ... captained UMD to the 1992-93 WCHA regular season title and an NCAA Regional berth ... was an All-WCHA first team selection as a senior and a second team honoree the previous winter ... still holds Bulldog marks for career game-winning goals (15) as well as playoff assists (13) and playoff points (19) in one season ... was voted UMD’s Outstanding Senior Male Athlete for 1992-93 ... proceeded to enjoy an eight-year National Hockey League career with Buffalo, Dallas (where he was a member of the Stanley Cup champion Stars in 1999), Chicago and Philadelphia ... produced 96 goals and 152 assists for 248 points in 450 regular season NHL games ... played professionally for seven years in Europe and Japan before calling it a career in 2008 ... skated for Team U.S.A. in seven IIHF World Championships … was inducted into the UMD Athletic Hall of Fame one year ago.
Shjon Podein (Wing • Rochester, Minn.) - Twice earned the Goldie Wolfe Award as UMD’s Most Inspirational Player (1988-89 and 1989-90) and was a three-time member of the WCHA All-Academic Team ... finished first among the 1989-90 Bulldogs in scoring with a career-high 39 points in 35 games while serving as an alternate team captain ... transferred to UMD after playing part of one season (1985-86) at the now-defunct U.S. International University ... skated for two years with American Hockey League's Cape Breton Oilers before launching his National Hockey League career in 1992-93 ... wound up taking part in 699 NHL regular season games and another 127 playoff outings with four clubs -- Edmonton (which owned his draft rights), Philadelphia, Colorado and St. Louis -- over the next 11 seasons ... picked up five points during Colorado’s 2001 Stanley Cup title crusade ... received the NHL’s King Clancy Award in 2000-01 for his exemplary community service and humanitarian contributions ... competed for the U.S. National Team at the International Ice Hockey Federation World Championships in both 1993 and 1998 ... was inducted into the UMD Athletic Hall of Fame in 2009.
Glenn “Chico” Resch (Goaltender • Regina, Saskatchewan) – Protected the UMD goal for three seasons and served as their team captain in 1970-71 ... was selected to the All-WCHA second team as a senior ... was presented with the 1970-71 UMD Outstanding Senior Athlete Award ... stopped pucks for 14 years in the NHL with the New York Islanders (1973-81), Colorado Rockies (1981-82), New Jersey Devils (1982-86) and Philadelphia Flyers (1986) before retiring in 1986 ... appeared in three NHL All-Star Games (1976, 1977, 1983) ... was a member of the 1979-80 Stanley Cup champion N.Y. Islanders ... corralled the NHL's Bill Masterton Award in 1981-82 for his perseverance, sportsmanship, and dedication to hockey ... was runnerup in the Vezina Trophy (NHL's top goaltender) balloting on three occasions (1976, 1977, and 1979) ... played in 571 games in the "Bigs" and posted 231 victories … was inducted into the UMD Athletic Hall of Fame in its inaugural year (1991).
Alex Stalock (Goaltender • South St. Paul, Minn.) – Backstopped the Bulldogs to the finals of the 2009 NCAA West Regional and secured AHCA/Reebok All-America West Team honors in the process … posted a 2.13 goals against average, a .924 save percentage and five shutouts (all single-season club records) in 42 appearances as a junior … also held the title as the WCHA's goals against average leader in 2008-09 -- just the second Bulldog to ever do so -- with a 2.39 mark in league play en route to being selected to the All-WCHA first team …. was handed the WCHA Final Five Most Valuable Player award after allowing just one goal in three games and posting back-to-back shutouts (a UMD first) against North Dakota and Denver while leading the Bulldogs to their first league playoff championship title in 24 years … wound up logging more crease time (2,533:39) than any other netminder in the country in 2008-09 … signed with the San Jose Sharks following his junior season … departed the Bulldog program holding down the No. 1 spot on the team's all-time charts for goals against average (2.48), saves percentage (.910) and shutouts (nine) … was a member of the 2006-07 WCHA All-Rookie Team.
Bill Watson (Wing • Powerview, Manitoba) – Gave the UMD hockey program its second Hobey Baker Memorial Award winner following a record-breaking junior season... was a two-time All-American and All-WCHA first team honoree (19834-85 and 1984-85) …. skated off with the WCHA Player of the Year award in 1984-85 after leading that circuit in scoring for a second straight season -- a Bulldog first ... racked up 210 points in 108 career outings for a school record 1.94 points per game average ... established Bulldog single season marks in 1984-85 for points (109, a then-NCAA record), assists (60), multiple-point games (36) and longest overall scoring streak (33 games) ... passed on his final season of collegiate competition to skate with the NHL's Chicago Blackhawks …played for four years and in 115 NHL regular season games with that club ...received the Emery Edge Award for having the best plus-minus rating of any Chicago player in 1986-87... was inducted into the UMD Athletic Hall of Fame in 1997.
Also of note ... longtime DECC Zamboni driver Walt Bruley will be retiring after this weekend's series against Michigan Tech. Walt will be honored during and after his final drive, which is scheduled for the second intermission of Saturday's game.
Congratulations on 37 great years, Walt ... enjoy your retirement!
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