In honor of the 75th anniversary of the Eastern College Athletic Conference, the ECAC, is presenting "The Top Moments in ECAC History" every Friday during the 2013-2014 academic year. This week the ECAC has chosen the 1973-74 ECAC Division III Northeast Tournament Champions who are celebrating their 40th Anniversary this season.

The 1973-74 Worcester State Lancers ice hockey program came into their eighth varsity season with a lot to prove. Looking to build off its finish as the first-ever ECAC Division III Regular Season Champions the year before, the Blue and Gold started off their next campaign trying to find answers to a lot of questions.

After graduating several top line starters, a young Worcester State club entered camp with nine freshmen and two sophomores on the 20-man roster. Coach John Coughlin, Sr. and his son both scratched their heads entering the month of November as they also tried to figure out how to replace an offense that had produced an astounding 6.09 goals per game in 23 contests.

After struggling with a 2-3-1 record to open the season, the Lancers received a boost from junior Marvin Degon and senior transfer Fran Johnson as the pair had both been ineligible to compete until the second semester.

Upon the return of Degon that January, the Lancers promptly responded by posting a remarkable 11-4 record to close out campaign. He netted an amazing 29 goals and 11 assists in 11 games, having a hand in several victories – including the game-winning tallies at Fitchburg State and against Holy Cross while also chipping in with a pair of match clinching helpers.

Johnson was another key factor in the success of the Blue and Gold. After suiting up for three seasons at Division II Merrimack, the local Auburn native decided to use his final semester of eligibility wearing a Lancer uniform. The defenseman proved to be a valuable addition as he registered eight goals and dished out 24 assists from his back-line position in 12 contests en route to ECAC Division III Most Valuable Player accolades at the end of the year.

With a sensational final regular season record of 13-7-1 (8-0-1 versus Division III opponents), the Lancers earned a berth to the first-ever ECAC Northeast Tournament and the right to host Wesleyan College, who had posted a mark of 9-11-1 and achieved a 5-1 slate against divisional competition. Despite their under .500 mark, they had grinded through a tough Division II slate that had included 14 games against foes from the upper tier.

The Cardinals, who were putting the finishing touches on their third year as a program, were paced offensively by sophomore sensation Rich Gallogly, who finished the 1973-74 season with 34 goals and 25 assists for a squad-best 59 points. Coming into the matchup, Wesleyan net minder John Garner also led all Division III goalies with a sparkling 3.90 goals against average and two shutouts.

The high flying Cardinals had also tallied 103 goals as a team for an average of 4.90 markers in 21 games while also going 5-1 against common Worcester State opponents.

With the contest being played at the Worcester Arena, Wesleyan drew first blood by opening up the game off a redirected slap shot by Bud Taft before the Lancers responded with three unanswered tallies and the 3-1 edge. The Lancers goal scorers were Degon, Rick Gliesman and Tom White.

Degon started off the second period with a man-up tally before Gallogly sliced into the deficit for the 5-2 Blue and Gold advantage at the midway point.

After trading markers in the second period, the Worcester State offense came out firing on all cylinders in the final stanza and finished off the game by outscoring the Cardinals, 6-2, as the home team rolled to an 11-5 triumph for the final score.

Pacing the late evening Lancer barrage in the third was Degon and Joe Murphy, who both hit home two markers apiece in the contests final run to help the Lancers claim the first-ever ECAC Division III Northeast crown. For an effort that included four tallies and two assists, Degon was awarded the game's Most Valuable Player trophy en route to his seventh hat-trick of the season in 12 starts on the front line.  

Degon, who ended his career with the second most goals (209) and fourth-highest point sum (307) in the Division III ice hockey record book, was recognized with NAIA All-American accolades for his accomplishments in propelling the Blue and Gold to the ECAC Division III Northeast title.

Degon and his teammates on the 1973-74 squad were distinguished in the Lancer Hall of Fame Class of 2005. Degon was also inducted into the inaugural Worcester Ice Hockey Hall of Fame, housed at the DCU Center. Gardner and Gallogly were enshrined in the Wesleyan Athletics Hall of Fame as Gallogly's career marks for goals (122) and points (202) still stand as program standards today.  

In celebration of 75 years of the ECAC, we are proud to salute the 1973-74 Worcester State University and Wesleyan College men's ice hockey teams for their season's accomplishments in the inaugural Division III Northeast Championship Game.

Pictured Above: Junior Marvin Degon poses for a shot during the 1973-74 ECAC Division III Northeast Tournament Championship Run

ECACSports.com "Top Moment" Story

You can follow the Worcester State Lancers on Facebook and Twitter