Final from Grand Forks: Wisconsin 3, North Dakota 2.
 
(from the radio)
 
North Dakota opened the scoring at about the 15 minute mark of the
first period, Wisconsin tied it one minute later, but gave up a goal
less than a minute after that.
 
The game was pretty even, back and forth. Not too many penalties,
although Wisconsin had three power plays in a row in the first half of
the second period, followed by 2 for North Dakota.  Neither team scored
on the power play.
 
Wisconsin tied it early in the third, on a goal by Blaine Moore, who
hasn't scored in a long time....
 
It sounded like North Dakota had a little bit more zip on their game
than the badgers, but both goalies played well, coming up big when
needed, until Jason Zent banged home a loose puck in the crease after
Moore took a bad angle backhander that the North Dakota goalie (Jones)
misplayed with 1:05 remaining.
 
Misc Notes:
 
- Wisconsin Coach Jeff Sauer has been quoted all week that he wanted to
  go with one goalie down the stretch, and just about everyone in town
  said it would be Jim Carey (who played very well for the US team, but
  did not make the trip to Fairbanks last week, having just gotten off
  the plane from Europe.  Carey got the start tonight, and is expected
  to play again tommorrow.
 
- WCHA referee Buzz Christiansen apparently injured his knee in a
  game earlier in the season in Denver, but was back in the stipes
  tonight, with a knee brace.
 
- According to the radio guys, Buzzy is a high school teacher in Grand
  Rapids, Minnesota when he isn't offiating. The other ref manages (?) an
  appliance store in St. Paul, and the linesman is a bank president, also
  from St. Paul. I didn't catch their names.
 
- Between periods they talked to the North Dakota play by play
  announcer.  He was asked if North Dakota is the team that has been
  hurt the most by the Candian Major Juniors' new success in getting
  the Canadian kids (especially from the West), which has been a major
  foundation of North Dakota teams in the past. He didn't say that
  North Dakota was hurt more than anyone else, but did say the NCAA
  rules are going to kill hockey -- NCAA schools aren't allowed to
  recruit a player until his senior year in High School, but the majors
  can talk to him all through school, getting a big jump on recruiting
  them.  He especially complained about a kid playing a 5 game tryout,
  not making it, not getting paid, but losing his NCAA eligibility.
  (NOTE: That was the announcer talking, not Gino).
 
        --david