Yamaguchi cha-chas to victory

Bret Hedican of the Carolina Hurricanes won't hold the Stanley Cup this year, but there's consolation -- a gloriously ugly mirror ball trophy will be displayed in the Hedican-Yamaguchi household, thanks to his wife, Kristi.

On Tuesday night's "Dancing With the Stars" finale on ABC, Kristi Yamaguchi, the 1992 Olympic figure skating champion, became the first female since season one to win the contest, beating fellow celebrity finalists Jason Taylor and Cristián de la Fuente.

Her Monday performances of the cha-cha and a Michael Jackson-inspired freestyle with partner Mark Ballas earned raves from the judges, and perfect scores of 30 that gave her an unbeaten 60 going into Tuesday's finale.

Yamaguchi and Ballas capped it off with a reprise of the jive, a dance that served them well earlier this season.

"You are the most consistent dancer, not only in this season -- any season," said judge Len Goodman.

Ballas and Yamaguchi are the highest scorers with judges in the show's six-season history.

Before the credits rolled Tuesday (and Yamaguchi was hoisted on the shoulders of Taylor and de la Fuente), host Tom Bergeron congratulated Yamaguchi by referring to season one's winner, soap actress Kelly Monaco.

"We got a Kelly and a Kristi!" he said.

"I guess K is a good initial to have!" she answered.

Yamaguchi and her husband have hinted they may move from North Raleigh to northern California with their two children soon, if Hedican does not return to the Hurricanes. His contract has expired.