As a freshman in 1946, Gacek helped Michigan win the Big Ten Conference hockey championship by scoring the tying goal against the University of Minnesota in the season's final game.
[3] In 1948, he played for the Michigan team that won the first ever NCAA Frozen Four ice hockey championship.
[4] Gacek starred as the center on Michigan's famous "G" line, which included Wally Grant and Ted Greer.
[5] Each of the three linemates scored a third-period goal in Michigan's championship game against Dartmouth.
[4][6] The hockey title capped off a year in which Michigan had also won the Rose Bowl and the conference basketball championship.