Scoring, however, has not been a major aspect of Olson's career at Harvard. He scored more goals this season than in his three previous ones put together, but the senior doesn't mind that he has spent more time developing his defensive skills than his offensive ones.

"Last weekend was great, but I'd rather shut a team down," he says. "I'd rather stop goals than score them. Defense is what I pride myself in Period."

Napoleon

He has played defense ever since he began playing hockey 17 years ago in the peewee and bantam leagues of Minnesota. From then on it's been his position, despite the fact that most blueliners are considerably larger. "My size hinders me a bit, but I don't get out-positioned," he says.

The fact that Olson plays defense has made it possible to avoid sibling rivalry while playing on the same team as his younger brother, Greg, something he has done ever since his junior year at Hopkins Lindbergh High School.

When the anthropology major graduates this year, it will probably mark the end of his hockey career, but not his quest for excitement. Olson plans to visit Australia and work there for a year. When he finally returns to the States, he will apply to medical schools.

For now, however, Olson's thoughts are concentrated on a closer location: Bright Hockey Center and tonight's game against Michigan State.

"I think we have a very good chance," he says. "We have the confidence and we have the chemistry."

They also have a great playoff performer--Mitch Olson.