Page 8-The Michigan Daily- Sports Monday- March 29, 1993
OUIMET
Continued from page 1
more this year than any other. It's
brought my game. up to another
level. '
"I have increased my strength
incredibly. In my first year some-
one would sneeze on me and I
would fall down. It's given me
unbelievable confidence. When I
first came here, I didn't really
think I could beat any defenseman
to the puck. Now I think I can beat
any defenseman in this league."
In that first year, though,
Ouimet was thrust into an impor-
tant role. He centered Michigan's
top line with Roberts on the left
and two-time All-American
Denny Felsner on the right. He
had 47 points on 15 goals and 32
assists, a goal-to-assist ratio to
which he has stayed close through
his four years.
He was fourth on the team in
scoring in his sophomore season
with 50 points on 18 goals and 32
assists. Last season, Ouimet suf-
fered through an off-year. He
scored just one goal in Michigan's
final 25 contests and finished with
a career-low 29 points on 10 goals
and 19 helpers.
This season Ouimet has 15
goals and 45 assists through 39
games and is again centering
Michigan's number one line. He is
now fourth on the school's all-
time assist list with 128 and ninth
on the all-time scoring list with
186 points.
"When I played with Denny
and Mark there was a lot of indi-
vidual stuff and that's how our
line got attention," Roberts said.
"This year our line is working to-
gether. We thrive on the chance to
play together. Dan's got a great
shot and Mark just opens up the
ice so much for our line."
Ouimet almost never had the
opportunity to open up the ice at
Yost Ice Arena. He was a small
player coming out of junior
hockey and was not initially on
Michigan's hit list of recruits. But
Worm was interested in Michigan.
His father, Ted, was a teammate of
Berenson's on the NHL's St.
Louis Blues and brought a teenage
Mark to his first college hockey'
game in Ann Arbor.
"I didn't even know what col-
lege hockey was," Ouimet re-
called. "I was hooked right there
- I thought it was the NHL. But
they weren't even interested in me
Eastern schools. However, he also
had ties at another CCHA school
- Miami. His older brother Terry
just finished his senior season in
the Redskins' 3-1 loss to
Wisconsin in the first round of this
year's NCAA tournament.
"I thought I might want to go
there because my brother was re-
cruited there," Ouimet said. "It
came down to Miami and
Michigan, but I decided I wanted
to get away from my brother and
do my own thing."
This year's senior class is un-
doubtedly Michigan's greatest in
recent memory. The three for-
wards and three defensemen made
an immediate impact in their
rookie seasons and helped trans-
form the Wolverines into a team
capable of reaching two straight
NCAA semifinals.
Thursday, the Wolverines face
the nation's top-ranked team in the
Maine Black Bears for the chance
to play in the final game. It is the
last chance for this senior class
that has done so much for the
program.
"It's going to be a huge disap-
pointment if we don't get to the
final game," Ouimet said.
"Anything but a win in the na-
tional championship game is going
to be a failure. That's what we
want to do - what we expect to
do. You can pin the blame on (the
senior class) if we don't win the
next two games."
Ouimet's college career is over
after this week no matter what
happens in Milwaukee. He defi-
nitely has some options to pursue
when he has run his course as a
Wolverine. The Washington
Capitals drafted him in the fifth
round (94th overall) in the 1990
NHL entry draft. He might want to
play in Europe or the Olympics.
Berenson has said Ouimet is
one of the fastest if not the fastest
player in college hockey. Now that
kind of speed does not come along
very often and when it does,
coaches and general managers are
quick to snatch it up. Even though
Ouimet is not the biggest player
nor has the best shot, he has the
kind of speed that could make his
hockey career an even longer one.
"(Hockey) is the most impor-
tant thing in my life," Ouimet said.
"I want to play hockey as long as I
can. I'm not going to hang up the
skates until someone says I can't
play anymore."
.x,
Senior Brian Gunn congratulates Stanford's Ron Carey after the 200-yard;F
butterfly. Gunn ended his Michig an career with a se cond-place finish. {
Gunn \'\aee
his Michigan career
with winning effort
a e4.
EVAN PETRIE/Daily
Mark Ouimet tries to win a faceoff earlier this season against Kent State.
Ouimet's speed has made him a great asset to the Wolverines' squad.
until I wrote a letter to coach with Berenson was the reason
Berenson telling him who I was." Mark became a Wolverine. He had
So some say Ted's relationship offers from RPI, Brown and other
'It's going to be a huge disappointment if we
don't get to the final game. Anything but a win
in the national championship game is going to
be a failure. That's what we want to do - what
we expect to do. You can pin the blame on (the
senior class) if we don't win the next two
games.'
- Mark Ouimet
I
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each group.
NIT heats
up tonight
in New York
NEW YORK (AP) - Two
weeks ago, Georgetown and
Providence left Madison Square
Garden as losers in the Big East
tournament. Tonight, they return as
winners in the National Invitation
Tournament.
Both teams have won three
straight NIT games to advance to the
semifinals. Georgetown (19-12)
plays Alabama-Birmingham (20-13)
in the opener at the Garden, and
Providence (20-11) meets Minnesota
(20-10) in the nightcap.
Although the Big East had a sub-
par season and sent only three teams
to the NCAA tournament, George-
town coach John Thompson and
Providence coach Rick Barnes don't
view their NIT success as
vindication for the league.
"I don't think our league has to
defend itself," Barnes said. "We
had great parity, and parity isn't a
sign ofweakness."
After losing seven of eight games
in February, Georgetown has re-
bounded to win six of its last seven,
including NIT victories over
Arizona State, Texas-El Paso and
Miami (OH).
UAB coach Gene Bartow said his
main concern is handling George-
town's pressure defense.
"They're quick and they can
cause problems with the trap," said
Bartow, whose team reached the
semifinalsby beating Alabama,
Clemson and Southwest Missouri
State.
The Providence-Minnesota game
features two teams that expected
NCAA tournament bids, but didn't
get them.
The snub enraged Minnesota
rnnh Cli.rnHnkin , ti
by Brett JohnsonI
Daily Sports Writer
INDIANAPOLIS - "GUNN-er,
GUNN-er, GUNN-er."
No more will this chant ring
throughout the IUPUI Natatorium at
a NCAA men's swimming and div-
ing championships. For Michigan's
Brian Gunn, it was the final meet of
his collegiate career. The senior tri-
captain wanted to end his career on
an up note, and he did exactly that.
Although Gunn did not win an
individual title, he made the fianls in
two events, and he was the key to an
outstanding 800-yard freestyle relay
that set a new Michigan and Big Ten
record en route to a national title.
"(The national championship)
sounds great," Gunn said after the
race. "We were talking about it the
whole time on the awards stand. The
day started out really bitter-sweet
with that relay. I know that got me
down a little bit."
The relay that Gunn was talking
about was the 200 medley. Earlier in
the morning session, the Wolverines
were disqualified in the relay, keep-
ing them out of the final champi-
onship heat. The disqualification set
the team back 22 seed points and left
some team members dejected.
However, the 800 free relay set
the team back on track and much of
that had to do with Gunn.
"I wasn't satisfied with my
morning swim (in the 100 butterfly)
at all," Gunn said. "I asked
(Michigan coach) Jon (Urbanchek) if
I could swim the relay. I wanted to
swim. I didn't want to be a piece of
luggage on the deck. The way it'
turned out was better than any of us
could ask for. We knew we had a
good relay the whole season long.
It's one of those things you talk
about."
Gunn's swim, in particular, was
very important to the teams' victory.
Swimming the third leg, Gunn drew
the assignment of going head to head
with Stanford's fabulous freshman
Joe Hudepohl, a sprint freestyle
specialist. Hudepohl pressed Gunn
the entire swim, and although
Hudepohl had a slightly faster split,
Gunn was able to hold hinoff and
give anchor Gustavo Borges a lead
that he would never relinquish.
"I touched at the end of my leg
and we saw our dream (of winning
the 800 freestyle relay national
championship) coming true real
fast," Gunn said. "I was expecting
(Hudepohl) to catch me within the
first 50. I was surprised at the 100
that he hadn't caught me yet. I was
really excited that last 100, because I
hadn't used my legs at all. I just
started putting it on my legs. I knew
we had Gustavo (on anchor), and
they didn't have Joe up there."
Urbanchek was ecstatic about the
relay performance, especially
Gunn's leg.
"We had to make up for the (200
medley) relay, so that was a great in-
spiration," Urbanchek said. "I think
the way we put the relay together,
the combination was just perfect.
(Gunn's leg) made the difference.
Gunn was barely able to fight off Joe'
Hudepohl and that was it."
Although Gunn's individual per-
formances were slightly overshad-
owed by his great relay leg, they
were also solid swims. In the 500
free, the first individual event of the
meet, Gunn was able to make it to
the championship final where he
placed sixth. The 200 butterfly gave
Gunn a chance to swim his best
event, and he did not disappoint as;
he finished second to Stanford's Ray
Carey.
"I really can't complain about,
(the 200 butterfly)," Gunn said.
"Ray swam a great race. I hung in
there and did my best. I came away
with second place which is better,
than anything else I've done
individually."
For Gunn, it was a very emo-
tional end to a great career for the
Wolverines.
"It's sad (to be leaving)," Gunn
said. "I don't really want to talk
about it, but just seeing everyone --
friends that I've grown up with."
Locations
United States Davis Cup
team falls to Aussies, 4-1
North Campus:
Central Campus:
153 Chrysler Center for all students enrolled in Architecture and
Urban Planning, Art, Engineering, Music (including Rackham
students enrolled in these units)
Room 17 Angell Hall for everyone else
Remember, You Must Have These Materials In Order To Register:
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until it is removed.
MELBOURNE, Australia (AP)
- The United States Davis Cup
team, minus several key performers,
lost yesterday in the first round by
Australia, 4-1. It was the first time in
a decade that a defending Cup
champion went down in the first
round.
"I was disappointed at the
American team that was sent
down," Australia captain Neale
Fraser said Sunday after his team
completed its victory over the
Americans. "I think the competition
deserves better."
Jim Courier, Pete Sampras,
Andre Agassi and Michael Chang
Davis Cup play in recent years,"
Fraser said. Gorman has had the job
for eight years.
The last champion to lose its
opening match was also the United,
States, defeated 3-2 by Argentina i4,
1983.
Mark Woodforde beat Brat
Gilbert 5-7, 6-1, 6-4 Sunday in the
'I was disappointed at
the American team
that was sent down.' ,
- Neale Fraset,
Australian captain
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