Maine Wins NCAA Title In OT

Two Hockey East rivals who split their four regular-season meetings played on even terms again Saturday night for the NCAA championship.

It took 10:50 of overtime to decide it, when Marcus Gustafsson knocked in a rebound of his own shot to give Maine a 3-2 victory over New Hampshire for the Black Bears' second national hockey title.

The victory was a redemption of sorts for Maine, which lost 6-1 and 4-1 in the final two regular-season games against New Hampshire to finish second behind the Wildcats, three points back, in the Hockey East standings.

"The first national championship was for the state of Maine; this one is for our players," Maine coach Shawn Walsh said. "They learned values they'll use for the rest of their lives."

Said New Hampshire coach Richard Umile: "Obviously I am real disappointed, but I have to congratulate Maine. These were two good teams that deserved to be here. "

"We will remember this night for a long time and hopefully build on from here."

The Bears won the rubber game, which just happened to have the national title as the prize, by refusing to wilt after squandering a two-goal lead.

Maine goaltender Alfie Michaud, named the Frozen Four's Most Outstanding Player, kept his team in the game with 46 saves, and the Bears seemed to be wearing down New Hampshire in the overtime.

Although outshot 48-39 for the game, Maine went on the attack in overtime, getting off nine shots to five by New Hampshire.

Goalie Ty Conklin made a string of spectacular saves in the extra period before Gustafsson wristed the puck past him, triggering a celebration by Maine's players.

Maine's Alfie Michaud was named the tournament's outstanding player. (AP)

"Cory Larose got the puck on the half-boards and he centered it," Gustafsson said of the winning sequence. "I was shooting down the center, going for the net. I shot right away, the rebound came out and I put it in the net."

Conklin, who had 36 saves, broke his stick over the goal pipe in disgust for allowing the deciding goal.

"Both of them are terrific goalies," Walsh said. "I told Ty after the game that he'd be back in a game like this. Both guys got help from the posts, but their positions were great. "

"Alfie was smooth again. He saw the puck very well."

Maine was banned from the NCAA tournament in 1996 and 1997 for violating NCAA recruiting and other rules. The Black Bears won the 1993 national championship and lost in the title game to Boston University in 195.

Walsh called this season "a wonderful journey," adding, "Our seniors have had faith, loyalty, fraternity and commitment."

The 1993 champions were led by Paul Kariya, who now plays for the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim on the ice where the Frozen Four was held this year. The 1999 champions were led by his brother, Steve.

"It's just an unbelievable feeling," Steve Kariya said after following in his brother's footsteps by winning the NCAA title.

Three of the last four title games ended 3-2 in overtime. Half of the last 12 championships have been decided in OT.

New Hampshire's Mike Souza drew the Wildcats even 3:33 into the third.

UNH goalie Ty Conklin made several spectacular saves on Saturday. (AP)

Freshman Darren Haydar stole the puck, skated behind the Maine goal, then zipped a pass across to Jason Krog. Krog fired to Souza, who beat Michaud at point-blank range.

Michaud kept New Hampshire frustrated for most of the first two periods as the Black Bears built their lead. But Haydar brought the Wildcats to life with a shorthanded goal with 4:02 remaining in the second period.

Haydar skated out of the penalty box, took a long pass from Souza and, alone some 20 feet behind the defense, skated in on Michaud and beat him to the glove side.

Souza's goal was his 23rd, fourth of the NCAA tournament, and Haydar's was his 31st.

Maine appeared to take a commanding 3-0 lead when Dan Kerluke sailed a shot past Conklin at 13:18 of the second period. But officials disallowed the goal after reviewing the play, ruling that the Black Bears' Jason Vitorino was in the crease.

Three minutes later, Haydar scored and New Hampshire suddenly was back in the game.

Niko Dimitrakos, a freshman who had a goal and an assist in Maine's 2-1 overtime victory over Boston College in the semifinals, gave the Bears a 2-0 advantage early in the second period of the championship game.

Dimitrakos slammed a shot from the slot into the right corner of the net for his eighth goal.

Maine's Ben Guite opened the scoring on a power play when he poked in a rebound 15:47 into the game.

Conklin blocked Vitorino's slap shot from the top of the circle and the puck wobbled outside the crease, where Guite, being dragged down by defenseman Jayme Filipowicz, got his stick on the puck and slid it past the sprawling goalie.

New Hampshire lost 4-0 to eventual champion Michigan in last year's semifinals, but beat Michigan State 5-3 to make it to the final this time.

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