UMaine captures tourney> Kariya keys win

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ANAHEIM, Calif. – Former University of Maine Hobey Baker Award winner Paul Kariya has weaved some magic at The Pond in his young National Hockey League career.

On Sunday, his little brother, Steve, showed a little of the Kariya passing magic at The Pond as he set up what proved to be Shawn Wansborough’s game-winning goal with 9:42 left to lead the Black Bears to a 4-3 win over Michigan State in the Great Western Bank Freeze-Out championship game.

Maine has won all four Freeze-Outs it has participated in, going 8-0 in the tourney.

The Black Bears were clinging to a 3-2 lead when Kariya pounced on the puck in center ice, broke down the left wing and shoveled a pretty backhand pass to the middle of the slot where Wansborough one-timed a rising 14-footer over the glove of Michigan State sophomore goalie Chad Alban.

“It’s only fitting that a Kariya pass set up the winning goal at The Pond,” said Maine coach Shawn Walsh.

Tony Tuzzolino beat Maine goalie Blair Allison with a slap shot into the far corner from the top of the faceoff circle to pull the Spartans within 4-3 with 5:24 remaining but Allison came up with a few clutch saves down the stretch and Bears hung on for the tourney title.

“They have a very improved team. It was a great test for us and a great win to get,” said Walsh. “Our shorthand game got better as the game went along and we got a big shorthanded goal (from Scott Parmentier).”

Maine junior center Dan Shermerhorn was chosen the tournament’s Most Valuable Player and Walsh concurred, saying, “It was fitting. He won every key faceoff.”

Walsh also praised the performances turned in by Waterville natives Barry Clukey and Jeff Libby.

“They were two subtle keys to the game. Barry played his best game as a Black Bear and Libby was a rock on defense. We gave Jeff the game puck. I had him out there when (Anson) Carter was out there,” said Walsh referring to MSU’s preseason Hobey Baker Award candidate.

MSU’s Richard Keyes scored the only goal of the first period as he converted a power play breakaway with a 10-foot wrist shot over Allison’s glove. Carter’s pass sent Keyes in alone.

Keyes’ goal was his third of the tournament.

Tim Lovell equalized for Maine in the second period on the power play as he gathered in the rebound of a Jason Mansoff shot at the top of the crease, pulled the puck back and lifted it over the fallen Alban.

The Spartans had a golden opportunity to regain the lead when they were awarded a penalty shot after Allison attempted to steer a rolling puck wide of his net and had his goalstick slide out of his hand.

Keyes took the penalty shot and tried to slip the puck between Allison’s pads. But Allison got the inside of his left leg on it and closed his legs on the puck.

The Bears then built the lead to 3-1 later in the period on goals by Lovell and Parmentier but MSU’s Jeff Kozakowski got one back on the power play before the end of the period.

Lovell was credited with a goal when MSU defenseman Chris Smith wheeled around and accidentally fired the puck into his own net. Maine defenseman Brett Clark had taken a shot from the right point that deflected to Smith, who did a 180-degree spin before shooting it into the short side.

Parmentier scored his second shorthanded goal in as many games 2:40 later by converting a breakaway off a Brad Purdie pass. Parmentier slid the puck between the legs of Alban for his third goal of the tournament.

Kozakowski scored at the tail end of a four-minute power play as his shot from the right point deflected off a Maine stick and glanced over the glove hand of Allison.

Allison and Alban each finished with 17 saves. The Bears and the Spartans each converted on two of their seven power play opportunities.

Bears 4, Spartans 3

Michigan State 1 1 1 – 3 Maine 0 3 1 – 4

First period – 1. MSU, Keyes 3 (Carter), pp, 16:57. Penalties – MSU, Tuzzolino, slashing, 4:02; MSU, Keyes, holding, 9:30; MSU, Bogas, roughing, 10:14; Maine, Shermerhorn, unsportsmanlike conduct, 10:14; MSU, Watt, high sticking, 10:51; Maine, Dekker, holding, 16:04; Maine, Wansborough, roughing, 18:09; Maine, Shermerhorn, interference, 18:41.

Second period – 2. Maine, Lovell 1 (Mansoff, Shermerhorn), pp, 1:53; 3. Maine, Lovell 2 (Clark), pp, 8:28; 4. Maine, Parmentier 3 (Purdie), sh, 11:08; 5. MSU, Kozakowski 2 (Harlton, Berens), pp, 15:04. Penalties – MSU, Keyes, tripping, 1:23; Maine, Kozakowski, slashing, 3:45; Maine, Roenick, elbowing, 5:28; MSU, Harlton, hooking, 8:50; Maine, Roenick, holding and roughing, 9:36

Third period – 6. Maine, Wansborough 1 (Kariya), 10:16; 7. MSU, Tuzzolino 1 (unassisted), 14:36. Penalties – Maine, Parmentier, holding, 6:16; MSU, Clarke, roughing, 11:38; MSU, Berens, roughing, 19:48.

Shots on goal: Maine 5-11-5 – 21; MSU 8-9-3 – 20

Goaltenders: Maine, Blair Allison; MSU, Chad Alban

Attendance: 2,000 (est.)