Steve Kariya Helps Maine Claim Title

Playing only his second collegiate hockey game and with his older, more famous brother watching from above, freshman Steve Kariya set up the game-winning goal for Maine in a 4-3 victory over Michigan State in the title game of the Great Western Freeze-Out at The Pond of Anaheim on Sunday.

Kariya, whose older brother Paul plays for the Mighty Ducks and was watching from the press box, fed a pass to Shawn Wansborough, who beat Michigan State goalie Chad Alban for a 4-2 Maine lead midway through the third period.

Michigan State’s Tony Tuzzolino scored about four minutes later to cut the lead to 4-3, but the Spartans got no closer.

“How fitting the winning goal was set up by a Kariya,” Maine Coach Shawn Walsh said after the Black Bears, the NCAA runners-up last season, won their second consecutive Freeze-Out title.

“The Kariyas must feel comfortable in this building.”

Tim Lovell scored two of Maine’s three second-period goals, with Scott Parmentier scoring the other.

In the consolation game, Tim Leahy scored two goals and Randy Robitaille had a goal and two assists to lead Miami of Ohio to a 7-1 victory over Boston College.