BUFFALO, N.Y. -- New Hampshire leading scorer Lanny Gare is out of the Frozen Four championship game Saturday against Minnesota because of a dislocated right shoulder.

Gare was injured against Boston University in the Hockey East championship on March 29. He had practiced gingerly with the team this week, but coach Dick Umile said Friday Gare was not healthy enough to play.

"He's not capable of going," coach Dick Umile said. "He'll put all his energy into leadership off the ice and that will be an important part for the guys."

Gare, nephew of former NHL player Danny Gare, led UNH with 22 goals and 29 assists for 51 points. He finishes his collegiate career with 48 goals and 94 assists for 142 points in 151 games. He had two goals and three assists against Minnesota this season.

Humanitarian Award
Cornell University forward Sam Paolini was named recipient of the 2003 Hockey Humanitarian Award on Friday. Paolini, a senior from Rochester, N.Y., scored 13 goals and 17 assists for 30 points in 35 games for the Big Red.

He received the award for his civic involvement and volunteerism, including work against breast cancer. The award was given in conjunction with the Hobey Baker Award ceremonies. Paolini, majoring in economic management, carries a 3.12 grade-point average.

No respect
Travis Weber isn't about to take up the mantle of the "Rodney Dangerfield'' of Frozen Four goalies. With all the attention surrounding David LeNeveu, Al Montoya and Mike Ayers, his 31-save performance against Michigan on Thursday might have gained the beleaguered Minnesota goaltender a little respect.

And by the way, he's one of only two still playing. "I think its funny,'' Weber said. "I use that as motivation actually. They're talking about other goaltenders and they've had great seasons and they are great goalies. They deserve the attention.''

"But I think I have something to prove,'' he said. "And I think I got a little start here.'' Weber made 20 saves in a 3-1 loss to New Hampshire earlier this year.

History lesson
Minnesota leads the all-time series between the teams, 10-2-1, but New Hampshire beat and tied the defending champs earlier this season. The two teams skated to a 5-5 draw Oct. 18 at New Hampshire's Whittemore Center, breaking a seven-game Minnesota winning streak over UNH dating back to Jan. 5, 1985.

Minnesota rallied to take a 5-4 lead before Colin Hemingways tying goal at 6:14 of the third period. The next night, Mike Ayers turned in a career performance making 44 saves -- 21 in the third period -- in the Wildcats' 3-1 win.

Hemingway and Gare were New Hampshire's leading scorers vs. Minnesota, both with two goals and three assists. Troy Riddle led the Golden Gophers in scoring against UNH with three goals and an assist.

"Those games were early in the season,'' Ayers said. "It may have some effect, but I don't think it's going to have too much."

The teams have tournament history as well, where Minnesota is 3-0 vs. New Hampshire. The Gophers beat New Hampshire 4-3 in the 1979 semifinals, then swept the Wildcats in 1983 in a best two-out-of-three quarterfinal series by scores of 9-6 and 7-2.

Power outage
A problem all season long, Minnesota advanced to the finals of the Frozen Four with the 10th-ranked power play in the 16 team tournament field. The Gophers have converted just twice on 15 chances (13.3 percent) with the man advantage and went 0-4 against Michigan Thursday night.

Minnesota's penalty killers are also in the middle of the pack, ranked ninth at 81.8 percent (9 of 11). They stifled all five Michigan power plays chances Thursday.

New Hampshire's power play is ranked No. 6 in the tourney field with five goals on 16 chances (31.2 percent) and converted Thursday to make it 3-0 over Cornell on Steve Saviano's second goal of the game. The PK ranks fifth at 88.2 percent (15 for 17).

By the numbers
Minnesota is attempting to become the first repeat champion since Boston University in 1971 and 1972. ... Minnesota is making its 11th title-game appearance, tying Michigan and North Dakota for the most by any school. The Gophers are 4-6 in their previous appearances. ... This marks the seventh consecutive year that at least one team from Hockey East is in the title game, and the fourth consecutive year that Hockey East and the WCHA make up the final-game field. The WCHA is 2-1 on those games.