[box score] - It could not have been a more fitting ending for Bemidji State. Extending its own NCAA single-season record by playing in its 15th overtime game this season, the Beavers became the lowest seed to advance to the College Hockey America tournament championship game when sophomore forward Myles Kuharski forced a puck past Alabama-Huntsville goaltender Scott Munroe at the 12:30 mark of the extra period, giving BSU an historic 2-1 victory.

Alabama-Huntsville had an excellent opportunity to steal the win itself after BSU’s Andrew Murray was whistled for charging Steve Charlebois behind the BSU net at 9:25 of the bonus period. During the power play, Jared Ross took a pass and held the puck at the top of the crease. He feinted to the right and got BSU goaltender Grady Hunt to dive, then attempted to fire a shot to Hunt’s right into an open net. On the way down to the ice, Hunt was able to kick out his right foot and stop the shot with his shin pad. Hunt finished with seven saves in the overtime.

Kuharski’s lamp-lighter at 12:30 of overtime capped the second-longest game in CHA Tournament history at 72:30. Wayne State and Niagra skated in a 73:55 marathon in the 2001 semifinals.

The victory makes Bemidji State, the fourth seed in the tournament, the lowest seed to advance to the CHA title game. Wayne State advanced as the three seed in 2001 and Alabama-Huntsville as the three seed in 2002.

BSU will tackle third-seeded Wayne State in tomorrow’s CHA championship game. The Warriors scored five goals in the third period to defeat No. 2 seed Niagara, 6-4, in tonight’s first semifinal game. It will mark the first championship game in CHA history that will not feature the tournament’s No. 1 seed.

It took Bemidji State nearly 13 minutes to record its first shot on goal, but it made that shot count as John Haider picked up his second marker of the campaign at 12:27 of the first. The Beavers would manage just three shots on goal in the period, getting out-shot 9-3 in the frame, but skated into the first intermission with a 1-0 lead.

The Beavers fought away several point-blank scoring opportunities by the Chargers in the second period, but still the 1-0 lead held. Alabama-Huntsville had perhaps its best extended scoring opportunity late in the period, forcing BSU to face a major penalty after Jean-Guy Gervais was whistled for checking from behind and ejected at the 17:30 mark of the second.

But the streak came to a halt quickly, as Jared Ross tipped in a shot from Jeremy Schreiber just 19 seconds into the third period, evening the score at a goal apiece with a shot from the top of the right circle which skidded through Hunt’s legs.

Hunt earned the win in net, playing a career-high and BSU Division I-era record 72:30. He saved 32 of 34 shots faced in the contest, including all seven in overtime, marking his ninth 30-save effort in 27 starts this year. Hunt is unbeaten in his last six starts. During the streak, he has allowed just six total goals with a .965 save percentage and an 0.95 goals-against average. He improves to 13-9-5 on the season, extending his career high for wins in a season.

Ross’s power-play goal snapped several school-record defensive streaks for BSU, including consecutive periods without allowing a goal (13) and consecutive minutes played without allowing a goal (274:16). The power-play goal also ended BSU’s streak of consecutive penalties killed at 30, and was the first goal BSU allowed on the power-play in a span of 417:33 - the second-longest streak in BSU’s Division I era. Still, BSU has killed 45 of its last 47 penalties and 61 of its last 67.

Bemidji State improved to 14-13-8 overall on the season, setting a Division I-era record for wins in a single season, running its unbeaten streak to seven games (6-0-1), also a Division I-era record.

The Beavers will tackle Wayne State in tomorrow’s College Hockey America championship, scheduled for a 5:05 p.m. opening face off at the Tri-City Arena. The Warriors advanced with a 6-4 win over Niagara in today’s first semifinal game, rallying from a 3-1 second-intermission deficit with five goals in the third period. Wayne State is making its third appearance in the CHA championship, while BSU will play for the CHA title for the first time. Tomorrow’s winner recieves the CHA automatic qualifier into the 2003 NCAA championships.

Bemidji State and Wayne State split their season series, 2-2-0, with each team sweeping on its home ice.

SCORING SUMMARY
1/12:27/B - John Haider (2, PP) (Anders Olsson/14, Riley Riddell/14) / 1-0
3/0:19/A - Jared Ross (21, PP) (Jeremy Schreiber/16) / 1-1
OT/12:30/B - Myles Kuharski (8, GW) (Travis Barnes/2) / 2-1

BSU: Grady Hunt (72:30 / 9-11-5-7=32 saves / 1 GA / W, 13-9-5)
UAH: Scott Munroe (72:30 / 2-7-7-3=19 saves / 2 GA / L, 11-6-1)
Penalties/Power Plays: BSU: 8-27/1-5; UAH: 5-10/1-8
three stars: 1/Grady Hunt, BSU; 2/Myles Kuharski, BSU; 3/Jared Ross, UAH