1986-87 Men's Hockey Team (2025) - Hall of Fame - St. Cloud State University Athletics

1986-87 Men's Hockey Team

Induction:
2025
Class:
1987

The 1986-87 Men’s Hockey team, the final Division-III team at SCSU, was coached by the legendary Herb Brooks, won a conference championship, posted the best national tournament finish in program history at the time and paved the way for the Division-I success the Huskies have experienced over the past three-plus decades. After coaching the Americans to famed gold at the 1980 Olympics, Coach Brooks had a vision to elevate more Minnesota collegiate hockey programs to the Division-I level, which became his main objective in his lone season leading the Huskies. Partnering with University President Brendan McDonald, the duo spearheaded the funding for the National Hockey Center, which was later named after him in 2013 and was instrumental in the team’s ascension to Division-I. In 1986-87, the team won a program-record 25 games, captured an NCHA championship and advanced to the NCAA Division-III Tournament for the first time in program history. In the national tournament, the Huskies beat Bemidji State to place third nationally, its best national tournament finish until the Huskies finished as the NCAA runner-up in 2021. The Huskies set 45 D-III school records throughout the season, including most wins (25), goals (202), assists (281) and points (483). The team was captained by Mike Brodzinski, John Matchinsky and Rian Reed, while Brodzinski led the team in scoring with 38 goals and 65 points and earned his second All-America honor.