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 REGISTRAR'S BULLETIN BOARD IT'S TIME: EARLY REGISTRATION FOR SPRING, SUMMER,;SPRING-SUMMER, AND FALL IS HERE! Registration Schedule April 1-2 8:00a.m.-5:00p.m. Registration for Nursing students and Graduate/Professional students (except Business Administration) April 5-19 (except weekends) Registration by appointment begins April 5 and ends April 19 (except weekends). Hours 8:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. The exact appointment time and registration location will be printed on the Student Verification Form. Students will be asked to register according to the following priority group sequence. Group I Group II Group DI Group IV Group V Group VI Group VII 100+ credits 85-99 credits 70-84 credits 55-69 credits 40-54 credits 25-39 credits 0-24 credits Group I will register first followed by the remaining groups. Registration times are assigned randomly within 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: -Student Verification Form-this form will indicate the time and place to register -Student Picture ID card -Election Work Sheet (one for each term) -Override Forms-if course/selection has an entry restriction Financial Hold Credits Students having a FINANCIAL HOLD CREDIT will not be permitted to register 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 S 0 0 0