" Page 10-The Michigan Daily- Thursday, April 1, 1993 ICERS Continued from page 1 potent attack. Freshman sensation Paul KarlyaleadsMaine' s offense. The first- year center tops the nation in assists with 71 to go along with 25 goals. The Black Bear's second-line center is al- most as deadly. Senior Jim Montgom- ery has 91 points. Both are finalists for this year's Hobey Baker Award. The other cog in the Maine offen- sive machine is its smallest player - Cal Ingraham. Despite his diminutive stature (5-foot-4), the right wing leads the nation in scoring with 44 tallies. However, it is Kariya that teams have tried to shut down, especially be- cause of his terrific passing skills. 'Teams have shadowed him, but he always finds a way to get the job done," Mainecoach Shawn Walsh said. "Wher- ever we have gone this season, the teams have had their largest crowds of the season. I think that's because of number nine." FNA L FOU R The Wolvernes' number nine has had quite a season himself. Dave Rob- erts leads Michigan in scoring with 64 points. Yet, he is not the sole offensive force for Michigan as eight other Wol- verine players have totaled more than 30 points, including four with 50 or more (Mark Ouimet, Cam Stewart, David Oliver, and Brian Wiseman). "They have more offensive ex- plosiveness than we do," Berenson said. "But I think we can skate, defend, and get good goaltending." The key to Michigan's success will be on the special team units. Maine puts the puck in the net 31.2 percent of the time while having the man-advantage (83-266). The Black Bears are just as stingy when they have a man in the penalty box, allowing goals just 12.2 percent of the time. The Wolverines, meanwhile, kill off 86.7 percent of their penalties. While playing a man up, Michigan has buried the puck in the net 25.7 percent of the time. The Michigan defense will have to use its strength along the boards and in the corners if the Wolverines plan on playing in Saturday's championship game against the winner of Lake Supe- rior State and Boston University. "They are every bit as physical as the Minnesota team we played last week," Walsh said. "Michigan has a little bit more finesse and talent than others do to go with that." Berenson said his team is "the best team" he has had in his nine years at the helm of the Wolverines. Walsh said that this is "the best team" he has brought to the semifinals. Tonight, the game will decide who brought the better of the two squads. 0 0 I KRISTOFFER GILLETTE/Daily Michigan goaltender Steve Shields will have to deliver a strong performance if the Wolverines are to going to be able to triumph over Maine. Shields has a 30-5-2 record going into this afternoon's semifinal at the Bradley Center. 'M' hockey needs Shields to be mai man agaIst Black Bears I- by Brett Forrest Daily Hockey Writer It could be the biggest game of his life. If teams win in the playoffs, they win with goaltending. In today's NCAA semifinal game between first-seeded Maine (40-1-2) and second-seeded Michigan (30-6-3), Wolverine junior netminder Steve Shields just may have to will his team to victory. Shields was steady throughout the season but garnered little praise. Going into this afternoon's game, he has a 2.17 goals against average - second in NCAA hockey - but his defensive corps is regarded as the best in the nation. Seniors David Harlock and Pat Neaton might play in the Olympics in January. Senior Chris Tamer could play for the Pittsburgh Penguins in a few weeks. Junior Aaron Ward is a first-round draft pick with numerous options. Maine boasts the most potent of- fense in the land, averaging 6.85 goals per tilt. Right wing Cal Ingraham is tops in the game with 44 goals in 43 games. The Black Bears have three players with more than 80 points and eight with over 40. Michigan has not faced anything near this kind of firepower this season. "I'm going to prepare the same as always," Shields said. "What I've done so far this season seems to work for me. At this stage of my ca- reer I know how to prepare. I won't change anything for this game." "(Shields) plays against the best forwards in the country every day right here," Michigan coach Red Berenson said. "That's not to say they're better than Maine's but they're right with them. He faces his share of good shots in practice every day." This game could prove to be a turning point for Shields. His play this season improved markedly from last year. But he still does not get the respect across the country many Wolverines say they feel he de- serves. If he has his career-best game against the once-beaten Black Bears, in front of the sellout crowd of 18,000 at Milwaukee's Bradley Center, he might finally convince people he truly is a money goalie. "I don't have to overachieve to win," Shields confided. "We're not going to win single-handedly, we're not going to lose single-handedly. By no means do I have to carry this team." Last week against Wisconsin, the teams were knotted at 2-2 until Shields let in a routine slapshot from 60 feet. It was almost miraculous that the Wolverines recovered from the setback to win in overtime. Today's game will be the 40th game of Michigan's season, and Shields saw action in 38 of the pre- vious 39. This workhorse has to be the key for the Wolverines as they tackle the long-awaited challenge of facing Maine. "I'm pretty sure the Maine game is not going to be 2-1," Shields said. "We should be desperate at this point of the season. We've worked all year and now it comes down to these two games. We'll be ready." 0 *international studentlbudgetlteacher fares. #Backpacks & Guidebooks. *Railpasses issued-on-the-spot. OInternational studentlyouthl teacher identity cards. 'Hostel memberships. 'Expert travel advice. 1220 S. University Avenue STE 208 Ann Arbor, MI 48104 313-998-0200 Congratulates 1Jul11 the Wolverines for reaching the Championship Semi-Finals! CETIET AI join the fun G9I 11 in New Orleans WITH THE POWER OF DW for: Friday, April 2,5 to 7 PM 9 S 0 0 FREE ADMISSION ($oBabyr D'Ick 9at0 Featuring: * Collegiate 3-pt. Shoot Out * "Get Vertical" Leap Contest (Chance to win 1994 Championship Tickets) * Make the hoop for Jimmy V. campaign * The Ah Diet Pepsi huh!. Girls * College Basketball Coaches & Stars with VItale "R*. '®r 51, A mmm lll th Annual. OWN.I. I I 1( r 5th Annual College Basketball Slam Dunk s' 1 . 0