Mr. Mariucci, Assistant General Manager for the Minnesota North Stars, is without question the guiding force behind the rise of college hockey in the United States, and thus earns the well-deserved title “Godfather of Minnesota hockey.” He played a major role in establishing the success of Minnesota high school hockey and led the University of Minnesota hockey team to national prominence. He was an All-American in 1940,and played five seasons with the Chicago Black Hawks, where he was a defenseman. John Mariucci played in two Stanley Cups, and in 1952 began the first of his fourteen seasons as head hockey coach at the University of Minnesota. Mr. Mariucci left the University with a record of 215-148-18. In 1956 he led the United States Olympic team to a silver medal in the Winter Olympics at Cortina D’Ampezzo, Italy.