March
16, 2003
Wayne State claims CHA title, automatic bid
|
Wayne
State 3,
Bemidji State 2 |
| Team |
Goal |
Str |
| Time |
Assists |
| First
Period |
| 1-BS |
Myles
Kuharski (9) |
EV |
| 6:29 |
J.
Haider |
| 1-WS |
Jon
Brink (7) |
EV |
| 8:41 |
N.
Rosychuk |
| 2-BS |
Jeff
McGill (13) |
PP |
| 11:17 |
B.
Cook, P. Jonsson |
| Second
Period |
| 2-WS |
Marc
St. Jean (8) |
PP |
| 11:05 |
S.
Kovalchik |
| 3-WS |
Maxim
Starchenko (11) |
EV |
| 15:49 |
C.
Vail |
| Third
Period |
| No
Scoring |
| Goaltending |
| WS:
David Guerrera, 60:00, 16 saves, 2 GA |
| BS:
Grady Hunt, 59:09, 12 saves, 3 GA |
| Penalties:
BS 6/12; WS 8/26 |
| Power
Plays: BS 1-8; WS 1-6 |
| Attendance:
1,685 |
|
All-Tournament
Team |
G:
David Guerrera, Wayne State
D: Marc St. Jean, Wayne State (MVP)
D: Bryce Methven, Bemidji State
F: Jason Durbin, Wayne State
F: Barret Ehgoetz, Niagara
F: Dustin Kingston, Wayne State
F: Andrew Murray, Bemidji State |
|
How
they got here |
CHA
Quarterfinal coverage
CHA
Semifinal coverage
CHA
Tournament Preview |
By
Nate Ewell
Wayne State
captured its third consecutive CHA Tournament championship, although
this year's prize carries a little extra reward.
With their
3-2 win over Bemidji State, the Warriors secure the league's first
automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament. They will enter their first
NCAA appearance with a seven-game win streak, including three
victories on consecutive nights this weekend in Kearney, Neb.
Bemidji State
got on the board first in Sunday's title game, and held leads
of 1-0 and 2-1. But the Warriors answered, as they did in Saturday's
semifinal against Niagara.
Tournament
MVP Marc St. Jean scored his eighth goal of the year and third
in two days on a five-on-three power play 11:05 into the second
period, tying the score at 2-2. Maxim Starchenko netted the eventual
game-winner just under five minutes later.
David Guerrera
held Bemidji State off the scoreboard the rest of the way in what
was truly a defensive struggle. The two teams combined for just
33 shots on goal, with Guerrera turning aside 16 shots and first-team
All-CHA goaltender Grady Hunt making a season-low 12 saves for
the Beavers.
Wayne State
awaits its seeding in the NCAA Tournament, which will be announced
next Sunday, March 23.
NOTES
Wayne State
is the first team in college hockey to win three straight conference
tournament titles since Lake Superior captured the 1991, '92 and
'93 CCHA titles.
The Warriors
have won 15 games in a row in the month of March, and are 15-1
in March in the program's history.