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. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- =A9The Minnesota Daily Pam Sweeney Go Gophers! HOCKEY-L is for discussion of college ice hockey; send information to [log in to unmask], The College Hockey Information List.