DETROIT – The pressure is off for Michigan State hockey coach Ron Mason.

His Spartans won the first Mason Cup, the trophy named in his honor last spring, with a 2-0 victory over Michigan in Saturday's CCHA championship game.

"I never thought that much about it after they asked me if it would be OK to name the trophy after me, but then people started saying, 'You'd better win the first,"' Mason said. "Whew. I'm glad that's out of the way."

Michigan State, which also won the regular-season CCHA championship, played its usual strong defensive game in front of goalie Ryan Miller, who posted his 10th shutout of the season.

"We played as well as we could defensively," said Mason, who is college hockey's winningest coach. "That's our game."

Adam Hall had a goal and an assist for the Spartans (32-4-4), who won a record 10th CCHA playoff championship and their second in a row.

The loss left Michigan, which finished second during the regular season, with a 25-12-5 record.

This was only the second time that Michigan and Michigan State have met in the CCHA title game. The Wolverines won the other meeting 3-1 in 1997.

Miller, who leads the nation in goalie wins, save percentage, goals-against average and shutouts, turned away 19 Michigan shots and was named most valuable player for the second straight year. The sophomore is the first repeat winner in tournament history.

"You always try to bring your best game to Joe Louis Arena," Miller said. "I've been fortunate the last two years to come out on top. It means a lot to my teammates, too. They did a good job of limiting the scoring chances."

Joe Goodenow opened the scoring for Michigan State at 9:44 of the first period. Hall sent a pass toward the net and Goodenow jammed it past goalie Josh Blackburn.

The Spartans increased their lead to 2-0 with 21.7 seconds left in the first period on Hall's slap shot from the top of the right faceoff circle.

"It really helps your momentum when you score late like that," Hall said. "And it deflates the other team. We've been on both ends, so I know it's tough to come back from that."

Michigan State allowed only nine shots over the last two periods.

"We were having some trouble getting the shots through to the net," Wolverines coach Red Berenson said. "I liked the way we played tonight. It's just that they got the first goal and then the one in the final minute and then were able to tighten up defensively."

Joining Miller on the all-tournament team were forwards Hall and Sean Patchell of Michigan State and Joe Kautz of Michigan, and defensemen Andrew Hutchinson of Michigan State and Dave Huntzicker of Michigan.