The NCAA News - News and Features

The NCAA News -- April 12, 1999

Maine shatters mirror image with 3-2 win

BY STEPHEN R. HAGWELL
STAFF WRITER

ANAHEIM, Calif. -- Based solely on numbers, Maine and New Hampshire were mirror images in 1999.

Through 40 regular- and postseason contests, Maine and New Hampshire sported records of 30-6-4 and 31-6-3, respectively. Further, the two Hockey East Association rivals split four regular-season contests, with each team winning two contests at home.

On April 3, the two squads met for the fifth time at the Frozen Four and for three and a half periods once again mirrored each other.

The mirror was finally shattered at 10 minutes, 50 seconds of overtime when the Black Bears' Marcus Gustafsson knocked in a rebound of his own shot to give Maine a 3-2 victory and the 1999 Division I Men's Ice Hockey Championship crown at the Arrowhead Pond of Anaheim.

The title was the second for the Black Bears, who won the 1993 title by defeating Lake Superior State, 5-4.

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

New Hampshire competed in its first title game. The Wildcats earned a berth in the championship game by defeating Michigan State, 5-3, in the semifinals.

Maine clinched its second title when Cory Larose picked up a loose puck along the left boards and found Gustafsson in the slot. Gustafsson's initial shot was stopped by Wildcats goaltender Ty Conklin, but the senior forward secured the rebound and lifted the puck over a sprawling Conklin to spark a Black Bears' celebration.

"Cory got the puck on the half-boards and he centered it," Gustafsson said. "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."

The overtime drama marked the third time in the last four years that the national championship was determined in extra sessions. Michigan won the 1996 and 1998 titles, defeating Colorado College and Boston College, respectively, in overtime. Overall, nine title games have been decided in overtime.

"This is disappointing," said New Hampshire coach Dick Umile. "It hurts. It's supposed to hurt. But it doesn't take away from what this team has done. It has done something that no other UNH team has ever done, even with its rich tradition."

Maine had taken a 2-0 lead on goals by Ben Guite and freshman Niko Dimitrakos and appeared to make it 3-0 in the second period when Dan Kerluke fired a shot past Conklin at 13:18. But the goal was negated because officials ruled that a Black Bears player was in the crease.

Given a reprieve, New Hampshire battled back to knot the score, getting a short-handed goal from freshman Darren Haydar at 15:58 of the second period and the game-tying tally from Mike Souza 3:33 into the third period.

In the overtime, Conklin and Maine goaltender Alfie Michaud, who was named the tournament's most outstanding player, each performed spectacularly to extend the contest and set the stage for Gustafsson's heroics.

Named to the all-tournament team from New Hampshire were forwards Souza and Jason Krog and defenseman Jayme Filipowicz; selected from Maine were Dimitrakos, defenseman David Cullen and Michaud.

SEMIFINALS

Maine 2, Boston College 1 (ot)

Boston College -- 0 -- 1 -- 0 -- 0 -- 1

Maine -- 0 -- 0 -- 1 -- 1 -- 2

First period: No scoring. Penalties: M -- Robert Ek (holding), 3:53; BC -- Brian Gionta (high-sticking), 10:19; BC -- Mike Mottau (high-sticking), 14:37; BC -- Jeff Farkas (roughing the goaltender), 17:35.

Second period: BC -- Marty Hughes (Mike Lephart, Chris Masters), 5:34 (pp). Penalties: M -- Matthias Trattnig (interference), 1:02; M -- Barrett Heisten (interference), 3:01; M -- Doug Janik (hooking), 4:14; BC -- Hughes (holding), 18:07; M -- Bobby Stewart (cross-checking), 20:00.

Third period: M -- Niko Dimitrakos (Ben Guite, Dan Kerluke), 2:34. Penalties: M -- Stewart (holding), 3:10; BC -- Ales Dolinar (cross-checking), 6:06; BC -- Brooks Orpik (hooking), 13:14; BC -- Andy Powers (delay of game), 16:31.

Overtime: M -- Bobby Stewart (Heisten, Dimitrakos), 5:16. Penalties: None.

Shots on goal: Boston College 9-17-8-2 -- 36; Maine -- 13-7-12-5 -- 37. Saves: BC -- Scott Clemmensen 35; M -- Alfie Michaud 35. Penalties: BC -- 7 for 14 min.; M -- 6 for 12 min. Officials: Mike Schmitt (referee), Jon Campion (assistant referee), Derek Shepherd (assistant referee). Attendance: 12,582.

New Hampshire 5, Michigan St. 3

Michigan St. -- 1 -- 1 -- 1 -- 3

New Hampshire -- 1 -- 2 -- 2 -- 5

First period: NH -- Jason Krog (Corey-Joe Ficek, Jayme Filipowicz), 18:49; MS -- Rustyn Dolyny (Shawn Horcoff, Brad Hodgins), 19:27. Penalties: NH -- Ficek (tripping), 5:58; NH -- Darren Haydar (interference), 9:36; MS -- Jeff Kozakowski (tripping), 10:00; MS -- Mike York (high-sticking), 11:47; NH -- Mike Souza (holding the stick), 13:48; MS -- Damon Whitten (roughing), 17:37; NH -- John Sadowski (roughing), 17:37.

Second period: NH -- Souza (Haydar, Tim Walsh), 2:44; MS -- Sean Patchell (Mark Loeding, York), 6:49; NH -- Souza (unassisted), 18:17. Penalties: NH -- Eric Lind (holding), 9:46.

Third period: MS -- Adam Hall (York), 3:44; NH -- Jason Shipulski (Krog, Souza), 10:52; NH -- Krog (Haydar, Souza), 14:40 (pp). Penalties: MS -- Bryan Adams (slashing), :36; NH -- Haydar (high-sticking), :36; NH -- Filipowicz (roughing), 4:53; MS -- Chris Bogas (high-sticking), 14:31.

Shots on goal: Michigan St. -- 8-18-9 -- 35; New Hampshire -- 10-9-18 -- 37. Saves: MS -- Joe Blackburn 32; NH -- Ty Conklin 32. Penalties: MS -- 5 for 10 min.; NH -- 7 for 14 min. Officials: Mike Noeth (referee), Bill Jones (assistant referee), Tim Kotyra (assistant referee). Attendance: 12,719.

CHAMPIONSHIP

Maine 3, New Hampshire 2 (ot)

Maine -- 1 -- 1 -- 0 -- 1 -- 3

New Hampshire -- 0 -- 1 -- 1 -- 0 -- 2

First period: M -- Ben Guite (Jason Vitorino, Dan Kerluke), 15:47 (pp). Penalties: NH -- Darren Haydar (roughing), :40; M -- Barrett Heisten (tripping), 2:42; M -- Robert Ek (roughing), 9:39; NH -- Christian Bragnalo (boarding), 10:34; NH -- Mike Souza (cross-checking), 11:13; M -- Vitorino (interference), 13:30; NH -- John Sadowski (hooking), 14:53; M -- Matthias Trattnig (high-sticking), 19:49.

Second period: M -- Niko Dimitrakos (David Cullen, Peter Metcalf), 4:10; NH -- Haydar (Souza, Ty Conklin), 15:58 (sh). Penalties: M -- Bench (too many men, served by Vitorino), :47; M -- Kerluke (checking from behind), 11:10; NH -- Haydar (elbowing), 13:52; NH -- Chad Onufrechuk (slashing), 14:28; NH -- Christian Bragnalo (misconduct), 14:33; M -- Bench (delay of game, served by Kerluke), 15:58; NH -- Haydar (tripping), 19:24.

Third period: NH -- Souza (Jason Krog, Haydar), 3:33. Penalties: None.

Overtime: M -- Marcus Gustafsson (Cory Larose), 10:50. Penalties: M -- Doug Janik (roughing), 7:22; NH -- Sadowski (holding), 7:22.

Shots on goal: Maine -- 12-11-7-9 -- 39; New Hampshire -- 16-19-8-5 -- 48. Saves: M -- Alfie Michaud 46; NH -- Ty Conklin 36. Penalties: M -- 8 for 16 min.; NH -- 9 for 26 min. Officials: Mike Noeth (referee), Bill Jones (assistant referee), Tim Kotyra (assistant referee). Attendance: 14,447.