ST. PAUL, Minnesota -- Perhaps it was a slight tweak in tradition that propelled Minnesota to the 2002 Division I Men's Ice Hockey Championship on April 6.

The Golden Gophers had long been Minnesota's team -- literally. Not since 1987 had a non-Minnesotan laced up the skates for the Gophers.

The streak ended two years ago with the signing of Grant Potulny, a native of Grand Forks, North Dakota. The North Dakotan made the Minnesota faithful glad he came to the North Star State when he scooped up a loose puck and beat Maine goaltender Matt Yeats 16:58 into overtime to bring the Gophers their first championship since 1979.

"It was a battle in front of the net, but I got my stick on it," said Potulny, a sophomore who tattooed an "M" on his chest as a sign of loyalty to his school. "Somehow it got through."

When the puck hit the back of the net, the majority of the 19,324 on hand -- a Men's Frozen Four record -- erupted with an emotional and boisterous celebration.

"I told our guys from the start of the year that it's been too long since 1979 and that it's our time," said Minnesota coach Don Lucia. "We believed it was our turn."

For the Gophers to get their turn, however, the team needed a late rally and a few bounces to go their way. After trailing much of the game, Maine stormed into the lead on successive goals from Michael Schutte and Robert Liscak. Liscak's goal came with just 4:33 remaining in the game.

From there, Minnesota regrouped and carried the play. As time ticked to under a minute, the Gophers pulled goaltender Adam Houser for an extra attacker. Maine iced the puck, setting up a faceoff in the Black Bears end.

With 52.4 seconds on the clock, a scramble in front of the net ended when Minnesota's Matt Koalska fired a shot through Yeats' legs to tie the game and give the Golden Gophers life.

In the fifth national title game in seven years to need extra time for a winner, both teams had scoring chances, but each goaltender was up to the task.

At the 15:58 mark of the overtime, Minnesota's Koalska picked up the puck in the neutral zone and sidestepped Maine's Michael Schutte, heading to the Black Bears zone with a head of steam. Schutte stuck out his knee, tripping Koalska. The Gophers went on the power play, setting up Potulny's goal.

"(The power play) is not the reason we lost," said Maine coach Tim Whitehead. "Hats off to them for a great comeback."

Minnesota finished its season with a 32-8-4 record, while Maine ended 26-11-7.

The three-session combined attendance at the Xcel Energy Center set a Frozen Four record, totaling 57,957, breaking the mark set at the 1998 championship in Boston's Fleet Center (54,355).

Along with Potulny, who was named most outstanding player of the tournament, Minnesota's John Pohl and Adam Houser were named to the all-tournament team. Maine's Peter Metcalf, Schutte and Liscak also were named to the squad.

SEMIFINALS

Maine 7, New Hampshire 2

First period: N -- Sean Collins (unassisted), 0:21; M -- Robert Liscak (Todd Jackson, Gray Shaneberger), 3:34; N -- Steve Saviano (David Busch), 17:55 (sh).

Penalties: M -- Shaneberger (high-sticking), 0:24; N -- Collins (roughing), 4:01; M -- Martin Kariya (roughing), 4:01; M -- Lucas Lawson (hooking), 7:27; N -- Darren Haydar (slashing), 12:52; N -- Jim Abbott (roughing), 16:28; M -- Prestin Ryan (roughing), 16:28; N -- Robbie Barker (slashing), 16:28.

Second period: M -- Peter Metcalf (Chris Heisten), 3:37; M -- Metcalf (Paul Falco), 5:57.

Penalties: N -- Collins (boarding), 7:50; M -- Francis Nault (roughing), 7:50; N -- Garrett Stafford (high-sticking), 8:57; M -- Heisten (cross-checking), 13:22; M -- Niko Dimitrakos (interference), 14:47.

Third period: M -- Liscak (Jackson), 8:16; M -- Lawson (Dimitrakos, Metcalf), 12:20; M -- Paul Falco (Liscak), 13:30; M -- Falco (Ben Murphy, John Ronan), 16:21 (pp).

Penalties: N -- Stafford (tripping), 0:41; N -- Haydar (slashing), 16:07.

Shots on goal: Maine -- 9-18-13 -- 40; New Hampshire -- 10-8-7 -- 25. Saves: Maine (Mike Morrison) 8-8-7 -- 23; New Hampshire (Michael Ayers) 8-16-9 -- 33. Referee: Mike Schmitt. Assistant referees: Gregg Wohlers, Marco Hunt. Attendance: 19,214.

Minnesota 3, Michigan 2

Michigan 0 0 2 -- 2

Minnesota 1 1 1 -- 3

First period: MN -- Grant Potulny (Jeff Taffe), 4:20.

Penalties: MI -- Mike Roemensky (interference), 6:23; MI -- Eric Nystrom (hooking), 15:10; MN -- Judd Stevens (holding), 17:49; MI -- Mike Komisarek (hitting after the whistle); MN -- Taffe (hitting after the whistle); MI -- Mike Cammlleri (unsportsmanlike conduct), 20:00; MN -- Keith Ballard (unsportsmanlike conduct), 20:00.

Second period: MN -- Potulny (Jordan Leopold, John Pohl), 4:33.

Penalties: MN -- Matt DeMarchi (hooking), 1:26; MI -- Too mny players on the ice (served by Jason Ryznar), 3:55; MN -- Potulny (interference), 5:30; MI -- Jed Ortmeyer (checking from behind), 10:07; MN -- Nick Angell (roughing), 10:54; MN -- John Waibel (checking from behind), 11:50; MI -- Ryznar (interference), 14:55; MN -- Dan Welch (charging), 19:17; MI -- Nystrom (hitting after the whistle), 20:00; MN -- Mtt Koalska (hitting after the whistle), 20:00.

Third period: MN -- Taffe (Welch), 1:40; MI -- J.J. Swistak (Roemensky), 13:55; MI -- Ortmeyer (Nystrom, Cammalleri), 18:26.

Penalties: MI -- Michael Woodford (unsportsmanlike conduct), 4:40; MI -- Nystrom (tripping), 9:57; MI -- Cammalleri (holding), 13:11.

Shots on goal: Minnesota -- 9-12-5 -- 26; Michigan -- 10-13-6 -- 29. Saves: Minnesota (Adam Houser) 10-13-4 -- 27; Michigan (Josh Blackburn) 8-11-4 -- 23. Referee: John Gravellese; Assistant referees: Joe Andrews, Bob Bernard. Attendance: 19,234.

CHAMPIONSHIP GAME

Minnesota 4, Maine 3 (ot)

Maine 0 1 2 0 -- 3

Minnesota 1 1 1 1 -- 4

First period: MN -- Keith Ballard (Troy Riddle, Nick Angell), 7:18 (pp).

Penalties: ME -- Cliff Loya (holding), 5:40; ME -- Ben Murphy (goaltender interference), 9:20; ME -- Loya (cross-checking), 10:08; MN -- Grant Potulny (holding the stick), 13:18; ME -- Ben Murphy (high-sticking), 16:34.

Second period: ME -- Michael Schutte (Peter Metcalf, Niko Dimitrakos), 4:47 (pp); MN -- John Pohl (Nick Anthony, Angell), 5:38.

Penalties: MN -- Potulny (interference), 3:47; MN -- Ballard (obstruction-holding), 9:37; ME -- Gray Shaneberger (tripping), 13:02.

Third period: ME -- Schutte (Prestin Ryan, Todd Jackson), 1:17; ME -- Robert Liscak (Dimitrakos), 15:27; MN -- Matt Koalska (Troy Riddle, Pohl), 19:07.

Penalties: MN -- Jeff Taffe (boarding), 9:15; ME -- Lucas Lawson (hitting after the whistle), 19:19; MN -- Matt DeMarchi (hitting after the whistle), 19:19.

Overtime: Potulny (Pohl, Jordan Leopold), 16:58 (pp).

Penalties: ME -- Schutte (tripping), 15:58.

Shots on goal: Maine -- 11-13-16-5 -- 45; Minnesota -- 11-8-9-7 -- 35. Saves: Maine (Matt Yeats) 10-7-8-6 -- 31; Minnesota (Adam Houser) 11-12-14-5 -- 42. Referee: Steve Piotrowski. Assistant referees: John LaDuke, Kevin Langseth. Attendance: 19,324.

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