1981 NCAA Division II men's ice hockey tournament
{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2023}}
{{Infobox NCAA Division II Ice Hockey Tournament |
| Year=1981
| Gender = men's
| Division=Division II
| Image=
| ImageSize=
| Caption=
| Teams=4
| FrozenFourArena=Merrimack Athletics Complex
| FrozenFourCity=North Andover, Massachusetts
| Champions=Lowell Chiefs
| TitleCount=2nd
| ChampGameCount= 2nd
| ChampFFCount= 3rd
| RunnerUp=Plattsburgh Cardinals
| GameCount=1st
| RunnerFFCount=1st
| Semifinal1=Mankato State Mavericks
| FrozenFourCount=4th
| Semifinal2=Concordia Cobbers
| FrozenFourCount2=1st
| Coach=Bill Riley Jr.
| CoachCount=2nd
| MOP=Tom Mulligan
| MOPTeam=Lowell
| Attendance=3,769
}}
The 1981 NCAA Men's Division II Ice Hockey Tournament involved 4 schools playing in single-elimination play to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division II college ice hockey. A total of 4 games were played, hosted by Merrimack College.
The University of Lowell, coached by Bill Riley, won the national title with a 5-4 victory in the final game over Plattsburgh.
Tom Mulligan, of the University of Lowell, was named the Most Outstanding Player and was the high scorer of the tournament with seven points (3 goals, 4 assists).
Qualifying teams
Due to the lack of conferences and tournaments for western schools the NCAA held a regional tournament to help select teams for the national tournament. The western regional tournament is not considered as part of the NCAA championship but is included here for reference. No automatic bids were offered.
=Western Regional Tournament=
{{4TeamBracket|legs=2|maxround=1
| RD1=Regional Series
| RD1-seed1=
| RD1-team1=Gustavus Adolphus
| RD1-score1-1=2
| RD1-score1-2=6*
| RD1-seed2=
| RD1-team2=Mankato State
| RD1-score2-1=3
| RD1-score2-2=4
| RD1-seed3=
| RD1-team3=Concordia (MN)
| RD1-score3-1=4
| RD1-score3-2=5
| RD1-seed4=
| RD1-team4=St. Cloud State
| RD1-score4-1=5
| RD1-score4-2=2
}}
=National Tournament Teams=
| class=wikitable |
| Team || Record |
|---|
| Concordia (MN)
| 21–7–1 |
| Lowell
| 25–5–0 |
| Mankato State
| 27–10–0 |
| Plattsburgh State
| 26–3–2 |
Bracket
{{4TeamBracket-with 3rd
| RD1=National Semifinals
March 12–13
| RD2=National Championship
March 14
| RD1-seed1=
| RD1-team1=Plattsburgh State
| RD1-score1=10
| RD1-seed2=
| RD1-team2=Concordia (MN)
| RD1-score2=4
| RD1-seed3=
| RD1-team3=Lowell
| RD1-score3=8*
| RD1-seed4=
| RD1-team4=Mankato State
| RD1-score4=7
| RD2-seed1=
| RD2-team1=Plattsburgh State
| RD2-score1=4
| RD2-seed2=
| RD2-team2=Lowell
| RD2-score2=5
| RD2b-seed1=
| RD2b-team1=Mankato State
| RD2b-score1=9
| RD2b-seed2=
| RD2b-team2=Concordia (MN)
| RD2b-score2=7
}}
Note: * denotes overtime period(s)
[[List of NCAA Division I Men's Ice Hockey All-Tournament Teams|All-Tournament Team]]
- G: Rick Strack (Plattsburgh State)
- D: Tom Mulligan (Lowell)
- D: Tod Wescott (Plattsburgh State)
- F: Dean Jenkins (Lowell)
- F: Pierre Brunett (Plattsburgh State)
- F: Mike Carr (Lowell)
External links
- {{cite web|url=http://fs.ncaa.org/Docs/stats/winter_champs_records/2004/2004_winter_champs_records.pdf|title=NCAA Record Book|accessdate=2016-04-14|work=NCAA}}
{{NCAA Division II Men's Ice Hockey Tournament}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:1981 NCAA Division II Men's Ice Hockey Tournament}}