Sports NMU Hockey: A winning tradition n 1976, Northern Michigan Championship. In its 25-year exis- of 512 wins in his 25 In addition to the CCHA Coach of the Year (1979-80 University began the ice age with tence, NMU has reached the NCAA years at NMU. He is coaching many cham- and 1980-81) and WCHA Coach of Ithe addition of a Division I men’s Tournament on seven occasions in the 12th college hock- pionship teams and the Year (1988-89 and 1990-91). ice hockey team. Twenty-five years addition to winning one regular sea- ey coach to win 450 award-winning ath- Comley also acted as head coach of later, the ice age is still present as son WCHA crown, three WCHA games at one school. letes, he is a two-time the West team in the 1981 Senior East- Wildcat hockey has become one of Playoff Championships, two regular- This season, Coach winner (1980 and West All-Star game. the most respected and successful season CCHA titles, and two CCHA Comley surpassed 1991) of the Spencer programs in the country. Playoff Championships. John MacInnes in the Penrose Memorial The highlight of Northern’s NMU launched its hockey pro- NCAA All-Time Trophy, given to hockey history occurred when the gram under the tutelage of Head Coaching Win List college hockey’s national coach of Wildcats captured the 1991 NCAA Coach Rick Comley, who has a record with 571 career wins. the year. He has twice been named 1977-78 1979-80 1980-81 1984-85 1990-91 1991-92 1998-99 1999-2000 1976 The Wildcat team In its fourth year of NMU continues its The Wildcat hockey The Wildcats NMU wins its third The team advances The Berry Events officially becomes a existence, the program switches complete the WCHA Playoff title. to the NCAA Center becomes the The NMU Division I success with a member of the Wildcat hockey from the CCHA to season with a Tournament for the new home of the men’s hockey second CCHA Central Collegiate team goes to the the Western school-record 26- first time since Wildcats. They program begins regular-season title. 1997-98 Hockey Association. Frozen Four, Collegiate Hockey game winning 1992-93. conclude the season under Rick Comley. It finishes in fourth A new era for the becoming the first Association. streak, capturing in third place in the Wildcats in the NHL Their first place in the NCAA Wildcat hockey CCHA team to the MacNaughton CCHA, their highest Don Waddell (1977-80) victory came Tournament. program begins as reach the NCAA 1989 Cup, the WCHA league rating since General Manager, three games it rejoins the Central Championship NMU captures its Playoff title, and the 1992-93. Atlanta Thrashers into the season Collegiate Hockey game. The first of three WCHA national title in a with a 5-3 win Association. Walt Kyle (1979-81) Wildcats Playoff titles, climactic 8-7 victory against Assistant Coach, New beat advancing to the over Boston Comley’s alma York Rangers Minnesota in first round of the University in three mater, Lake Brad Werenka (1987-91) the first NCAA Tournament. overtimes. Superior State Calgary Flames round of the University. NCAA Ed Ward (1988-91) Tournament New Jersey Devils before losing Dallas Drake (1988-92) to North St. Louis Blues Dakota in the Dieter Kochan (1993-97) title game. Tampa Bay Lightning J.P. Vigier (1997-2000) Atlanta Thrashers 20 HORIZONS SPRING/SUMMER 2001 SPRING/SUMMER 2001 HORIZONS 21.