Michigan wins NCAA hockey title in OT

The Associated Press BOSTON -- Red Berenson wanted uniform No. 7 when he played for Michigan but was assigned the No. 9 the school gave its stars as a nod to Gordie Howe, who was playing nearby in Detroit. ''No. 9,'' the Wolverines coach explained, ''is a special number in Michigan history.'' And now that's even more true. With its 3-2 overtime victory over Boston College on Saturday night, Michigan won NCAA hockey title No. 9. No other school has won more than six. ''Even if they win a Stanley Cup,'' Berenson, who won two during a 17-year NHL career, said. "Believe me, it won't be the same as this type of experience.'' Michigan (32-11-1) won the first NCAA title 50 years ago and six of the first eight, then added to its cache with championships in 1964 and 1996. Last year's team was favored to repeat before being bounced in the semifinals, in overtime, by Boston University. The Wolverines graduated five 20-goal scorers from their 1996-97 team, including captain and Hobey Baker Award-winner Brendan Morrison. He also wore the honored No. 9. This year, the number was draped on the shoulders of Mark Kosick, a freshman from Victoria, British Columbia, who followed two whopping years in youth leagues -- 132 goals and 174 assists in 77 games -- with 58 points in 54 BCHL games last season. Kosick did the number proud, scoring 14 goals with 32 assists in his first year. But, Berenson admitted, he wasn't so sure about the freshman before Saturday's championship game. ''We went through our lineup before the game, asking how many guys don't want to be here. There weren't too many,'' Berenson said. ''But you see him in the locker room, he looks like our stick boy. ''He's so young. But when he gets on the ice, he looks like a pro.'' Boston College led 1-0 and 2-1, but Kosick scored twice in regulation to tie it -- the second with 6:12 left in the third period to send the game into overtime. Josh Langfeld scored 17:51 into overtime, taking a feed from Chris Fox and putting it between Scott Clemmensen's legs. Marty Turco stopped 28 shots to extend his record for NCAA tournament wins to nine -- there's that number again -- and earn the honors as the event's most outstanding player. ''If it comes down to goaltending, and it usually does in close games, I'll take Marty Turco,'' Berenson said. ''We shouldn't have been here. I didn't think this team could do it. But they surprised me.'' Turco, whose NHL rights are owned by the Dallas Stars, was joined on the all-tournament team by Michigan forwards Kosick and Langfeld and defenseman Bubba Berenzweig. Boston College's Marty Reasoner was the other forward and Mike Mottau of the Eagles filled out the defense. Clemmensen stopped 32 shots, and Mike Lephart and Kevin Caulfield scored for the Eagles.