University of Wisconsin-River Falls

Highlights

The 1983 Falcons won UW-River Falls' first-ever National Championship. The team was seeded No. 1 going into the tourney which was played at UW-Superior.

UWRF finished the year 24-6-1 overall.

The Falcons went into overtime four times and were 3-0-1.

The Falcons finished 9-2 during their last 11 games before entering the National Tourney.

Coach George Gwozdecky was in his second of a three-year career with the Falcons. 

Tom D'Andrea led the team in scoring with 22-26-48. Mike Kelly was second with 22-10-32 and John Seidel third at 9-22-31. Kelly led the team with 10 power-play goals and Mike Collins led the squad with four short-handed goals. The Falcons scored eight hat tricks during the season and were led by Kelly who had four. Goalie Doug Cole played in 15 games and had a 3.63 goals against average and a .869 saves percentage. Mike Mitch played in 12 games and finished with a 3.91 goals against average and an .862 saves percentage.

Forward Tom D'Adrea was named the tourney's Most Valuable Player. He scored two goals and added one assist in the semifinals and scored the three-goal hat trick and had one assist in the championship tilt.

Against Hawthorne D'Andrea and Mike King both scored twice and goalie Mike Mitch made 13 saves to earn his first career shutout.

In the championship game King and D'Andrea scored hat tricks. With the Falcons leading 3-2, the team scored six goals in a span of 7:42 to take control of the game. Goalie Doug Cole made 12 saves.

King and defensemen Greg Dey and Mike Piette were all named to the All-Tourney team.

1983 NAIA National Champions

Front, left to right: Mickey Keating, assistant coach, Scott Dickmeyer, Mike Peitte, Doug Cole, George Gwozdecky, head coach, Mike Mitch, John Seidel, Bob Ehresmann, Mike McGraw, assistant coach. Middle, left to right: Rob Gaulke, manager, Ron Beck, Rob Nelson, Charles Harris, Todd Christensen, Scott Simpson, Mike Cowley, Tom D'Andrea, Jon Erickson, Eric Flom, Mike King, Jeff Whitney, Jim Walsh. Top, left to right: Annie Richardson, student trainer, Dave Giblin, Greg Dey, Dan Duffey, Mark Severson, Craig Johnson, Mike Colins, Paul Dykstra, Chris Telander, Doug Lick, Mike Kelly, Doug Dosser, Chris Schack, statistician. Not pictured, Mike Ellis.

-- Championship Game Result --

River Falls 12, Michigan-Dearborn 5
Saturday, February 26 at Superior, Wis.
Scoring by period
Michigan-Dearborn 2 2 1-5
River Falls 5 5 2-12
Scoring summary
First period: RF D'Andrea, PPG, 1:49. RF Kelly, 4:52. RF Dykstra (D'Andrea), 11:25 MD 11:464. MD Davis , PPG, 15:57. RF Lick (Beck), 17:07. RF Kelly (Beck), 17:15. Second period: RF D'Andrea (Johnson) 2:52. RF D'Andrea (Johnson), 3:44. RF Kelly , 4:33. RF Dickmeyer (Collins), 5:41. MD Szajner, 7:53. RF Nelson, 9:58. MD 14:57. Third period: RF Cowley, PPG, 3:12. RF Johnson, 4:36. MD 9:48. Saves: Doug Cole (RF) 12.

-- Semifinal Game Result --

River Falls 7, Hawthorne 0
Friday, February 25 at Superior, Wis.
Scoring by period
Hawthorne 0 0 0-0
River Falls 1 4 2-7
Scoring summary
First period: RF King, 18:57. Second period: RF Dykstra. RF King. RF D'Andrea. RF Nelson. Third period: RF D'Andrea. RF Seidel, PPG.. Saves: Mike Mitch (RF) 13.

Head coach: George Gwozdecky
Assistant coaches: Mike McGraw, Mickey Keating