This email has been sent to you by Deron Treadwell ([log in to unmask]).

Comments from Sender:

This story can be found online at:
http://www.portland.com/sports/college/hockey/020406umhocky.shtml

 ==============================================================================

                     Saturday, April 6, 2002

                                            Motivated? It's the NCAA hockey final


                        By   KEVIN THOMAS, Portland Press Herald Writer

                      Copyright  2002 Blethen Maine Newspapers Inc.









 ST. PAUL, Minn.  --  Does everyone in this NCAA Frozen Four have a score to settle with the University of Maine? First, the Black Bears had to face New Hampshire, a team Maine beat in the 1999 national championship game. The Wildcats said they wanted vengeance, but instead lost 7-2 in the semifinals Thursday.

Next for Maine is the University of Minnesota at 7 tonight for the national title.
    FOR IT ALL      Who: UMaine (26-10-7) vs. Minnesota (31-8-4)
   When: 7 tonight
   Where: Xcel Energy Center, St. Paul, Minn.
   TV: ESPN


 To top of story

Minnesota reached the NCAA tournament last year and led Maine 4-3 in a first-round game. But Maine tied it with two seconds left, then won 5-4 in overtime.

"It's still fresh in our minds," Gophers forward Grant Potulny said. "It gives us some extra incentive."

This year's Minnesota team, ranked No. 2 in the country with a 31-8-4 record, is improved. That was evident in Thursday's 3-2 semifinal win over Michigan. The Gophers took a 3-0 lead, then held off the Wolverines' rally, something they could not do last year against Maine.

"Some of that is experience," Minnesota Coach Don Lucia said. Last year, "they wanted to win so bad that they didn't use their heads. We've been telling our kids to play like you've been there before."

Minnesota hopes to benefit from that experience. In the closing seconds of the Michigan game, All-American forward John Pohl was in the circle for a faceoff.

"I remember losing the faceoff (against Maine) last year at the end, and then they scored," said Pohl, who won Thursday's faceoff.

Pohl downplayed the revenge factor, saying it would have been a big deal "if we played in December. But this is for the national title. That's the motivation."

Goalie Adam Houser felt more strongly about the opponent.

"I remember losing our last game to Maine in our last game of the season," he said. "I know we're going to play Maine in our last game of this season, and I want to beat Maine."

Houser's memory of last year's game is not pleasant. In overtime he tried to clear the puck but mishit it - right to Robert Liscak, who buried the winner.

But that was a year ago. Lucia said there is a big difference to this year's game: "We played them in their backyard last year (in Worcester, Mass.) and now they're in our backyard."

Indeed, a great majority of the 19,000-plus fans will be hooting for the Gophers.

Minnesota fans have not had a lot to cheer about recently in the NCAAs. The Gophers have made 17 appearances in the Frozen Four but this is their first since 1995. The Gophers hadn't reached a final since 1989 and last won the title in 1979, when Herb Brooks was the coach.

Lucia, a successful coach at Colorado College for six years (two Frozen Fours) has turned the Gophers into a national power again in his third year.

Minnesota features an explosive offense (4.45 goals a game) led by Pohl (75 points) and a second line that can score quickly with Jeff Taffe (56 points) and Potulny (31). Potulny had two goals against Michigan, Taffe the other.

"They remind me of a mix between Boston University and New Hampshire," Maine Coach Tim Whitehead said. "They're dangerous in the neutral zone, great in transition and in special teams, like UNH. They're aggressive and they pressure you all over the ice, like BU."

Maine will counter with an offense capable of breaking a game open - witness the seven goals against UNH.

"They have a very good transition team," Lucia said. "They counter well. And they're deep. They've got three or four very good lines.

"They don't necessarily have the one superstar that guides the team, but a lot of very good players. Seems like a different guy scores every night."

While Maine's offense has been a strength, the Black Bears will likely win tonight if it can come up with a defensive effort like the one against UNH Thursday. The Wildcats were averaging 4.67 goals a game, but notched only two against Maine. The Black Bears need to contain the Gophers in the same way.

"They're definitely a good team, and fast," Maine's Liscak said. "They have some size and a lot of skill. We'll have to be aware of certain players on their team, make sure we don't allow them too much time or space."

Maine's defense will be anchored by either Mike Morrison or Matt Yeats in goal. Whitehead hasn't named his starter. If he sticks to the rotation, he'll go with Yeats, but Whitehead has never been glued to a rotation.

Yeats is steady and experienced, while Morrison has the impressive numbers this season with a 2.19 goals-against average and 19-3-4 record.

No matter who is in goal, he'll take part in an emotional game. The Black Bears are playing the final game of a season dedicated to their late coach, Shawn Walsh.

And the Gophers are trying to win their first national title in 23 years, in front of the hometown crowd.

"With their emotional run with their coach, and with us being in St. Paul, it kind of crosses each other out," Potulny said. "We have a lot of incentive because of last year. Maybe that will be the X-factor for us."

Staff Writer Kevin Thomas can be contacted at 791-6411 or at:

[log in to unmask]