Looks like Defense is the word of the day.
The URL for the Pioneer Press article is:
http://www.pioneerplanet.com/sports/hockey/docs/022854.htm
U defensemen can put on a show
Here is the preview article from today's (2/2/96) Minnesota Daily:
Hockey series matches two of WCHA's top defensemen
Matthew Cross - Staff Reporter
In November 1994, North Dakota hockey coach Dean Blais was
preparing to face his alma mater, Minnesota, for the first time.
His team was 1-5, and the Gophers were 6-0. Blais said then that looking
forward to playing Minnesota was like looking forward to the electric chair.
North Dakota and the Gophers tied the first game, and the Sioux won the
second. And now, fear of Minnesota hockey is no longer an option for North
Dakota.
Blais and the Sioux players will welcome the Gophers this weekend to Ralph
Engelstad Arena in hopes of improving their 10-3-1 home record.
A lot has changed since that series almost a season and a half ago, and both
teams' captains have recognized the importance of this series.
"This is the biggest rivalry and one of the funnest series of the year for
us," said North Dakota senior defenseman Nick Naumenko.
"We've got to be successful at home if we want to have home ice for the WCHA
playoffs. We've never done that since I've been here, so getting home ice is
at the forefront of my mind right now."
Minnesota knows that if it loses to North Dakota, the ensuing series against
Colorado College at Mariucci Arena next weekend will be anticlimactic.
That's why Gophers senior defenseman Dan Trebil stresses the importance of
improving every day in practice and not taking teams lightly.
"Every game is big for us," Trebil said. "We're definitely not looking past
anyone right now. Each week Coach picks something we need to work on, and we
try to go and do it. You've got to keep improving or somebody is going to
pass you by."
One of the reasons Minnesota is all-business this weekend has to do with
mutual respect for each team's players.
Particularity between Naumenko and Trebil. Both veterans, who played on the
same Olympic Festival team two summers ago, have seen their roles change
with their respective teams over the past four years.
They have remained two of the few top defensemen in the WCHA for the past
four years.
However, neither player is fond of a comparison with the other.
"Dan and I are totally different players," Naumenko said. "I guess we're
both expected to be leaders, but I see him as a real easy guy to get along
with. He's a hard-nosed, clean player. I know guys everywhere respect him."
Although, they agree that they're used similarly on the power play, Trebil
maintains that Naumenko is the better of the two.
"We are both looked upon to be leaders on our teams, but I don't think our
styles are the same," Trebil said. "He can skate 100 times better than me,
and he can shoot twice as hard. He's got a cannon."
Indeed, Naumenko has made himself known for his shot, but he said
considering his 5-foot-11, 195-pound frame, he doesn't know how he does it.
"It's one of those things where I don't really work on it," Naumenko said.
"I just love to shoot. The most important thing is getting the puck to the
net and creating chances. If I have an open shot, I'm going to take it."
So far this season, Naumenko has created so many opportunities for his
linemates that he's only four assists shy of breaking his career mark for a
single season.
He and teammates Teeder Wynne and Darcy Mitani figure in on a lot of each
other's points. And it's Trebil's job to see that Naumenko doesn't make that
happen again this weekend.
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=A9The Minnesota Daily
Pam Sweeney
Go Gophers!
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