"He's not at all self-oriented," Steve Armstrong, a wing on the Ohno-centered third line, said. "He doesn't worry at all about personal stats. He makes it fun."

Ohno is a team player off the ice as well. The Eliot House senior gives special credit to his roommates, who include a varsity and a JV baseball player, for adding to his hockey experiences.

"My roommates have been real supportive by going to the games and taking an interest in what I'm doing," Ohno said.

While his roommates have been supportive, opposing fans have predictably singled Ohno out as a special target. Ohno's name, stitched conspicuously across the back of his Crimson jersey, makes him the easiest target among Harvard players for crowd heckling.

"He has a great last name for opposing rinks," laughed linemate Pete Follows.

Ohno seems to appreciate the added attention his name attracts and gives special praise to the most vocal crowd of all, the mob at Cornell's Lynah Rink.

"It's unbelievable to go in there with the fish, tennis balls, and super-balls," Ohno said. "The place smells like a seafood market. It's something you can't describe unless you've been there. They're great fans. It's unique."

Besides the physical toughness which allows him to sacrifice his body in checking and disrupting opposing teams, Ohno has another equally important dimension: his skating ability.

It's this ability which allows him to excel at his most important contribution to the Crimson--penalty killing.

In these key situations, Ohno and Armstrong--his penalty killing partner--play shorthanded against units assembled specifically for their goal-scoring ability. His speed helps compensate for the lost Harvard player by allowing him to cover more than one man.

Ohno's penalty-killing status is a sign of the respect the coaches and players have for him. It's a mark of consistency and maturity when a player is used in these key situations.

"Specialty teams are what win games for you," Tomassoni said.

"He's the kind of player every team loves to have," said Follows. "He's very consistent, sturdy, reliable. You know how he'll play, day in, and day out."

Head Coach Bill Cleary is more emphatic.

"Rob Ohno is the most consistent player I've ever coached at Harvard College," Cleary said.

And this steadiness makes Ohno a natural team leader.

"He's a quiet team leader," said Armstrong. "He leads by example."

"He's very well respected among his peer group," agreed Follows.

Ohno's leadership extends beyond hockey. He was elected as fourth Class Marshall this past fall and is also an officer in the Varsity Club.

So when you're watching Harvard this weekend, keep an eye out for Rob Ohno, a working man's kind of hockey player who leads by example.