Maine, Michigan Step Toward Anaheim

Shawn Walsh, Maine’s hockey coach, had his team thinking about a relaxing game of golf during Friday’s NCAA Division I East Regional. It worked.

The fourth-ranked Black Bears defeated Ohio State, 4-2, in the first round at Worcester, Mass.

“I told them before the game that this is an 18-hole golf tournament,” Walsh said. “The first game was the front nine. We’ve made it to the back nine.”

Maine (28-6-4) faces sixth-ranked Clarkson (25-10-1) in today’s quarterfinals. The winner advances to Thursday’s Frozen Four at the Arrowhead Pond.

Steve Kariya, brother of the Mighty Ducks’ Paul Kariya, led Maine with a goal and assist.

In Friday’s other first-round game in Worcester, Michigan defeated Denver, 5-3. The Wolverines, seeking their 10th NCAA title, will play second-ranked New Hampshire (29-6-3) in today’s other quarterfinal.

The West Regional opens today at Madison, Wis. Colorado College (28-11-1) plays St. Lawrence (23-12-3), with the winner facing Michigan State (28-5-7) on Sunday. The other first-round game features Boston College (25-11-4) against Northern Michigan (22-14-5). The winner plays top-ranked North Dakota (32-5-2).