John Mayasich is considered by many as the top amateur hockey player produced in the United States.
John Mayasich: Minnesota Sports Hall of Fame inductee, Class of 1987
Mayasich still holds H.S. and Gophers records.
November 23, 2019 at 3:24AM
Mayasich led Eveleth, Minn., High School to four consecutive unbeaten seasons and four consecutive state hockey titles from 1948 to 1951. Mayasich still holds 10 state hockey tournament records, including most goals in a game (seven), most goals in one tournament (15), most all-time goals (36) and most all-time points (46).
After high school, enrolled at the University of Minnesota where he played for coach John Mariucci, another Eveleth hockey legend.
With the Gophers, Mayasich was a two-time first-team All-America and two-time second-team All-America as the Gophers reached the NCAA Final Four in 1953 and the NCAA championship game in 1954. He led the WCHA in scoring in 1954 and 1955.
Mayasich still holds the Gophers career records for most goals (144) and points (298) and single-game records for goals (six) and points (eight). He played in 111 games for the Gophers.
After his Gophers career, he was a member of the U.S. Olympic team that won a silver medal in 1956 and a gold medal in 1960. He played on eight U.S. National teams.
In his biography in the Gophers men's hockey media guide, he was described by Mariucci: "The words to describe the boy haven't been invented. When I say he's the best, that's totally inadequate. John brought college hockey to a new plateau. He was the Wayne Gretzky of his time."
After declining offers to play in the NHL, Mayasich played for and coached the Green Bay team in the USHL.
Mayasich was the first Minnesotan to be voted into the National High School Athletic Hall of Fame. He was inducted into the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame in 1976.
JOHN MAYASICH
Class: 1987.
Sport: Hockey.
Teams: Eveleth H.S., Gophers, U.S. Olympic teams.
