1959 NCAA men's ice hockey tournament

The 1959 NCAA Men's Ice Hockey Tournament was the culmination of the 1958–59 NCAA men's ice hockey season, the 12th such tournament in NCAA history. It was held between March 12 and 14, 1959, and concluded with North Dakota defeating Michigan State 4-3 in overtime. All games were played at the RPI Field House in Troy, New York.

As of 2026, this was the last tournament to be won by an independent school.

Qualifying teams Four teams qualified for the tournament, two each from the eastern and western regions. The Big Ten and Tri-State League champions received bids into the tournament as did two independent schools.

East West SeedSchoolConference RecordBerth typeAppearanceLast bidSeedSchoolConference RecordBerth type AppearanceLast bid1 St. Lawrence Tri-State League 14–5–1 At-Large 4th 19561 Michigan State Big Ten 16–5–1 At-Large 1st Never2 Boston College Independent 19–7–0 At-Large 6th 19562 North Dakota Independent 18–10–1 At-Large 2nd 1958

Format The Tri-State League champion was seeded as the top eastern team while the Big Ten champion was given the top western seed. The second eastern seed was slotted to play the top western seed and vice versa. All games were played at the RPI Field House. All matches were Single-game eliminations with the semifinal winners advancing to the national championship game and the losers playing in a consolation game.

Bracket

Note: * denotes overtime period(s)

Semifinals

St. Lawrence vs. North Dakota

Michigan State vs. Boston College

Consolation Game

St. Lawrence vs. Boston College

National Championship

Michigan State vs. North Dakota

Scoring summary Period Team Goal Assist(s) Time Score 1st MSUEd PolleselMustonen and LaCoste 14:38 1–0 MSU 2nd UNDRalph LyndonMorelli and Miller 27:21 1–1 UNDGerry WalfordKing and Haley 28:57 2–1 UND UNDStan PaschkeLyndon 29:37 3–1 UND 3rd MSUAndre LaCosteRoberts and Norman 48:05 3–2 UND MSUJack RobertsLaCoste 56:20 3–3 1st Overtime UNDReg Morelli – GWMiller and LaFrance 64:18 4–3 UND Penalty summary Period Team Player Penalty Time PIM 1st MSUBob ArmstrongCross-checking 8:42 2:00 MSUEd PolleselSlashing 15:40 2:00 UNDRalph LyndonInterference 18:32 2:00 2nd UNDArt MillerTripping 24:11 2:00 UNDReg MorelliHooking 31:19 2:00 MSUBob NormanCross-checking 32:43 2:00 UNDArt MillerRoughing 33:28 2:00 MSUBruno PolleselRoughing 33:28 2:00 UNDGuy LaFranceTripping 35:29 2:00 UNDJulian BrunettaInterference 36:47 2:00 3rd UNDJulian BrunettaHigh-sticking 44:36 2:00 MSUBob NormanHigh-sticking 44:36 2:00 MSUEd PolleselTripping 48:49 2:00 MSUBob NormanHigh-sticking 56:38 2:00 UNDLes MerrifieldInterference 56:38 2:00 1st Overtime MSUTom MustonenTripping 63:01 2:00 UNDRalph LyndonTripping 63:13 2:00

Shots by period Team 1 2 3 OT T North Dakota 5 17 7 1 30 Michigan State 6 4 13 1 24

Goaltenders Team Name Saves Goals against Time on ice UND George Gratton 21 3 MSU Joe Selinger 26 4

All-Tournament team

First Team G: Joe Selinger (Michigan State) D: Joe Jangro (Boston College) D: Pat Presley (St. Lawrence) F: Reg Morelli* (North Dakota) F: Bill MacKenzie (Michigan State) F: Ed Thomlinson (North Dakota) * Most Outstanding Player(s)

Second Team G: Jim Logue (Boston College) D: Ralph Lyndon (North Dakota) D: Ed Pollesel (Michigan State) F: Larry Langill (St. Lawrence) F: Tom Mustonen (Michigan State) F: Joe Poole (North Dakota)

References