In the 1980's, the 'Jackets, along with everyone else in the conference, went from competing in the NAIA to the NCAA.  The 'Jackets had some success in the NAIA, including a national championship in 1976.  But the NCAA was much less forgiving.  The 'Jackets had trouble making the playoffs in the NCHA, let alone getting a bid into the NCAA tournament.  All of that changed in 1992, when the 'Jackets advanced to the dance for the first time.

"That first team to make the NCAA tournament was a very skilled group with Glen Lang, Chris Campbell and others," said UW-Superior Athletic Director Steve Nelson, who was the head coach of that squad.  "The year before we took a major step in just making the NCHA playoffs for the first time.  The next step after that was getting an NCAA bid.  This group did that and laid the foundation for the program and history that we have today."

Fast forward to 2009, and after a three-year hiatus the 'Jackets are back in NCAA action, where they will host Gustavus on Saturday, March 14 for the right to go to the Division III championships. 

"This is what we play for.  It's such a special thing to be able to play in the NCAA tournament and have a shot to go to the final four," said Yellowjacket Head Coach Dan Stauber.  "I never got to play in an NCAA tournament, but I have coached in a few of them and it is such a fun experience.  I hope that our players realize how special a time this is and how much fun they are about to have."

Between 1992 and 2002, the 'Jackets qualified for the NCAA tournament in every year except 1998, and reached the final four in all of those years except 1993 and 1998.  Below is a look back at the Yellowjackets' trips to the NCAA tournament.

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1991-92

Quarterfinals - Mankato at Superior
Game 1: Superior 8  Mankato 7
Game 2: Superior 4  Mankato 3

Semifinals - Superior at Plattsburgh

Plattsburgh 8  Superior 5

Third Place - Superior vs. Salem State (at Plattsburgh)

Salem State 7  Superior 6, OT

NCAA Rewind: A year after making the NCHA playoffs for the first time, the 'Jackets lost in the NCHA semifinals, in a mini-game to Mankato.  Upon getting their first berth into the NCAA tournament, the 'Jackets would again host the Mavericks, and sweep them out in the quarterfinals.  A supremely skilled team offensively, their first trip east saw them play host Plattsburgh in the semifinals.  They would lose to the hosts, and eventual national champions in the semifinals and fall to Salem State in the third place game.  Superior's second all-time scoring leader, Chris Campbell was tied for the tournament scoring lead, registering 12 points in the four games.

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1992-93

Quarterfinals - Superior at Stevens Point

Game 1: Stevens Point 5  Superior 3

Game 2: Superior 8  Stevens Point 3

Mini-Game: Stevens Point 2  Superior 0

NCAA Rewind: After a loss Friday, the 'Jackets rebounded with a huge win against the Pointers at K.B. Willett Arena, something that was virtually unheard of at that time.  The shutout in the mini-game sent the Pointers back to the Frozen Four, where they would win their fourth title in five years.  Jeff Markham set a record in the Friday night game for saves in an NCAA tournament game (excluding overtime) with 54.

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1993-94

Quarterfinals - St. Thomas at Superior

Game 1: Superior 3  St. Thomas 3
Game 2: Superior 5  St. Thomas 1

Semifinals - Salem State at Superior

Superior 3  Salem State 2, OT

Finals - River Falls at Superior

River Falls 6  Superior 4

NCAA Rewind:The 'Jackets advanced to their second Frozen Four and their first championship game, all the while playing in the comforts of their home rink.  In the semifinals, the 'Jackets avenged a loss to Salem State in the 1992 third place game when Corey Campbell scored in overtime to give the home team the win and send them to the final, where they would fall to NCHA-rival River Falls. 

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1994-95

Quarterfinals - Stevens Point at Superior
Game 1: Superior 8  Stevens Point 4
Game 2: Superior 5  Stevens Point 2

Semifinals - Superior vs. Fredonia (at Middlebury)

Fredonia 4  Superior 3

Third Place - Superior vs. River Falls (at Middlebury)

River Falls 6  Superior 5, OT

NCAA Rewind: The 'Jackets lost in the NCHA semifinals, on home ice, to Stevens Point. The Pointers would then lose in the NCHA finals at Bemidji, and would return to Superior for the first round of NCAA play.  The 'Jackets avenged the loss to the Pointers by blowing them off the ice en route to their third Frozen Four.  In game one, Brent Shaback, Vince Devlin and Rodney Graham all scored twice in an 8-4 win.  In the second game of the quarterfinals, Shaback scored three times to lead the 'Jackets to the final four, and on their first trip to Middlebury.  There, they would fall in the semifinals to Fredonia, who was making their second-straight appearance in the event.  They met River Falls in the third place game, losing in overtime to finish fourth for the second time.

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1995-96

Quarterfinals - St. John's at Superior
Game 1: Superior 6  St. John's 5
Game 2: Superior 7  St. John's 2

Semifinals - Superior vs. Middlebury (at River Falls)

Middlebury 4  Superior 3

Third Place - Superior at River Falls

River Falls 8  Superior 2

NCAA Rewind: This was the Superior team least likely to make it to the Frozen Four.  After losing a big chunk of offense in addition to an All-American defenseman, the 'Jackets weren't expected to do much when it came to the NCAA tournament.  After dispatching St. John's in the quarterfinals, they would face defending champion Middlebury.  The 'Jackets took a 2-0 lead on goals by Jon Garver and Brian Barker.  After the Panthers rallied to tie it, Barker again would give the 'Jackets the lead, 3-2 after two.  But Middlebury would score twice in the third to get the win, and go on to their second straight title.  We won't even discuss the third place game.

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1996-97

Quarterfinals - St. Norbert at Superior
Game 1: St. Norbert 2  Superior 0
Game 2: Superior 4  St. Norbert 1
Mini-Game: Superior 1  St. Norbert 0

Semifinals - Superior vs. Norwich (at Middlebury)
Superior 2  Norwich 1, 2OT

Finals - Superior at Middlebury
Middlebury 3  Superior 2

NCAA Rewind: Superior was paired against Norwich, a team making their first appearance in the Frozen Four and making their first tournament appearance in a decade, in the semifinals.  The Cadets took the play to the Yellowjackets throughout the game, relentless on the attack and firing shot after shot on goal.  In the end, Yellowjacket goaltender Dave Graichen finished with 69 saves, an NCAA tournament record.  The game ended when Paul Jay centered a pass and Brian Barker banged it home, giving the 'Jackets the double overtime win.  In the final, the 'Jackets fell short as Middlebury rallied for a 3-2 win and their third straight national title.  Dustin Fahl scored the first goal of the game midway through the first period, before the Panthers would score three straight to taken an insurmountable 3-1 lead.  Upon the 'Jackets return to Superior, then-head coach Steve Nelson said, "they don't look like much now, but they played like champions last night."

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1998-99

Quarterfinals - St. Thomas at Superior
Game 1: Superior 5  St. Thomas 5
Game 2: Superior 4  St. Thomas 3

Semifinals - Superior at Norwich
Superior 4  Norwich 2

Finals - Superior vs. Middlebury (at Norwich)
Middlebury 5  Superior 0

NCAA Rewind: Norwich was hosting their first Frozen Four in their brand new home, Kreitzberg Arena.  The Cadets would play the Yellowjackets in a rematch of the 1997 semifinal.  Middlebury had already won the first semifinal, and the hopes were Norwich would do the same and have an all-Vermont final.  Someone forgot to tell Steve Wiggins.  Wiggins scored the first three goals of the game for the 'Jackets, willing them to a 4-2 win over the hosts and a place in the finals.  There, Middlebury was the beneficiary of some spotty officiating, which saw the penalties at one point number 12-4 in their favor.  But it isn't as if they needed the help.  The Panthers shut the 'Jackets out 5-0, allowing only 12 shots on goal, which is still an NCAA record for fewest shots on goal in a tournament game.  It was the fifth straight national championship for Middlebury.

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1999-00

Quarterfinals - Concordia at Superior
Game 1: Superior 3  Concordia 1
Game 2: Superior 4  Concordia 1

Semifinals - Norwich at Superior
Norwich 5  Superior 4, OT

Third Place - Plattsburgh at Superior
Plattsburgh 2  Superior 0

NCAA Rewind: The 'Jackets got some good news for the quarterfinals.  They were actually the lower seed, but because Concordia's arena was unable to host the event, it was moved to Superior and the 'Jackets were the visiting team.  After a sweep of the Cobbers, they again hosted, being chosen as the site for the Frozen Four for the second time.  They would face familiar foe Norwich in the semifinals.  The 'Jackets led 4-2 after two periods, but the Cadets came storming back in the third period to tie the game and force overtime.  There, Casey Beaulac banged a centering feed past Tom Pink for the 5-4 win.  The Cadets would go on to win their first national title, while the 'Jackets would be shutout by Plattsburgh in the third place game.

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2000-01

Quarterfinals - St. John's at Superior
Game 1: Superior 5  St. John's 4
Game 2: Superior 4  St. John's 0

Semifinals - Superior vs. Plattsburgh (at RIT)
Plattsburgh 5  Superior 3

Third Place - Superior vs. River Falls (at RIT)
Superior 3  River Falls 1

NCAA Rewind: Perhaps the best team in school history, the 'Jackets entered the Frozen Four as the number two seed behind host RIT.  They would face Plattsburgh in the semifinals, and some serious misfortune hit the team in the first period.  Defensively, the 'Jackets were strong, allowing only three shots on goal.  Unfortunately, all three of them went in.  It was the afternoon game and one wall of RIT's arena was all windows.  The glare came down right in the slot, making it difficult for All-American goaltender Nate Ziemski to pick up the puck.  That was too much for the 'Jackets to overcome, and they lost to the Cardinals 5-3, settling for third place after beating River Falls in what would be the last third place game played at the Division III level.

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2001-02

First Round - St. Thomas at Superior
Superior 2  St. Thomas 1

Quarterfinals - Superior at St. Norbert
Game 1: Superior 4  St. Norbert 4, OT
Game 2: Superior 4  St. Norbert 2

Semifinals - Superior vs. Plattsburgh (at Middlebury)

Superior 5  Plattsburgh 0

Finals - Superior vs. Norwich (at Middlebury)

Superior 3  Norwich 2, OT

NCAA Rewind: After winning the Peters Cup at St. Norbert, the 'Jackets were relegated to the "play-in" game against St. Thomas.  The Tommies scored in the first minute, but the 'Jackets came back and Reed Larson scored the game-winner midway through the game in the 2-1 victory.  From there it was back to St. Norbert for the quarterfinals, and eventually out to Middlebury for the Frozen Four.  In the semifinals, the 'Jackets exorcised some deamons, getting goals from five different players in a 5-0 destruction of Plattsburgh, the defending champions.  Ziemski was also redeeming himself from the previous year, keeping the 'Jackets in the championship game against another relentless Norwich squad.  With the Cadets up 2-1 and just 1:26 left in regulation, Colin Kendall dumped the puck in and headed for the bench.  The puck glanced off a Norwich defender and past goaltender Kevin Schieve to tie the game.  On the first shift of overtime, Dale Lupul took a shot from the point that Schieve stopped, but he left a rebound there and Kendall popped it into the empty net to give the 'Jackets the win and the school their second national championship.  Josh Liebenow led the tournament in scoring with eight points in five games.

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2005-06

First Round - St. Olaf at Superior
Superior 2  St. Olaf 1

Quarterfinals - Superior at St. Norbert

St. Norbert 8  Superior 2

NCAA Rewind: After two scoreless periods, freshmen Seth Reda and Nate Rein scored goals to give the 'Jackets a 2-0 lead they wouldn't relinquish in a 2-1 first round win over St. Olaf.  From there, it was back to St. Norbert, where they won the Peters Cup the week before.  No such luck this time.  The Green Knights obliterated the 'Jackets 8-2, scoring three times in the first 11 minutes and ending the game almost before it got started.

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It's Superior's 12th trip to the NCAA tournament.  Plattsburgh is the all-time leader with 17 appearances, followed by Middlebury and St. Thomas, who have each been there 13 times.  In addition to the Yellowjackets, Babson, Elmira and RIT (now playing Division I) have all made 12 trips.

"We can look back on what has been accomplished by the coaches and players that were here long before us and be proud of what they have done, and the foundation that they have laid for us to do what we do today," Stauber said.  "At the same time, we hope that they are proud of us and support us as we carry on the tradition of Yellowjacket Hockey.

"Our group, the players and the coaches here in 2009, have a responsibility to the program to create our own legacy.  We are in a great position to do that.  It's our time to make a name for ourselves and carve our own niche in the program's history."

The 2009 version gets their first taste of NCAA play on Saturday.