They don’t say a lot. They let their actions do their talking for them.

Senior defenseman and co-captain A.J. Begg and sophomore center Marty Kariya, a pair of British Columbia natives, have been vital components in the University of Maine hockey team’s third consecutive NCAA Tournament berth.

Marty Kariya enters Friday’s NCAA Eastern Regional first-round game against Minnesota as Maine’s clear-cut leading scorer with 33 points in 37 games. He has 12 goals and 21 assists. Sophomore center Chris Heisten is next with 24 points. Kariya is tied for third on the team in plus-minus with a plus-10.

Begg was the runner-up to Boston College’s Bobby Allen as Hockey East’s best defensive defenseman. He has two goals and five assists in 37 games and is second on the team in plus-minus at plus-12.

“That’s a great honor,” said Begg, who never could have anticipated such an honor his freshman year when he was converted from forward to defense.

“I had always been a defense-minded forward anyway. I wished I had made the switch a long time ago,” added Begg. “I’ve learned a lot from Grant [assistant coach Grant Standbrook]. He knows a lot of technical stuff. And we’ve always had some of the best forwards in the league here so going up against them in practice every day has helped. Every practice is so intense. I feel more comfortable back there every game.”

But he doesn’t make opposing forwards very comfortable when he levels them with his 6-foot-3, 215-pound frame.

“That’s an important part of my game. I play my best when I play physical. And when one team is more physical than another, it’s a real advantage,” added Begg, a Coquitlam, British Columbia, native who has received more than 100 stitches in various cuts and reopened cuts on his chin.

Kariya said Begg is “the most solid defenseman I have ever played with.”

And junior defenseman Peter Metcalf, the team leader in plus- minus at plus-19, added, “He has gotten a lot better over the last three years. He holds the red line real well and always makes a big hit to get the team going.”

Begg said he has been somewhat happy with his career but not satisfied.

“You always want to do more. You always want to play better,” said Begg, who considers his co-captaincy to be among the best honors he has ever received.

“I’ve done the best I can. It’s a lot of work. We’ve had a lot of good captains in the past and I’ve tried to learn from them. Doug [co-captain Doug Janik] and I aren’t vocal. We try to lead from example. I’ve spoken up more in the locker room this year than I ever have,” added Begg.

Kariya feels he has been “pretty consistent” this season but he is glad his season didn’t end with the 4-3 Hockey East semifinal loss to Providence.

“You’re only as good as your last game and I didn’t play well. Our line didn’t step it up at all,” said Kariya, who centers Michael Schutte and Matthias Trattnig.

He said it wasn’t that his line played poorly but, “there wasn’t a lot of five-on-five ice time.”

Maine used its checking line against Providence’s top line and that line, featuring Peter Fregoe and Devin Rask, gets a ton of ice time. There were also some special- teams situations.

Kariya had 25 points as a freshman last year and he said one area he has worked hard to improve is his play without the puck.

“I’ve realized that when you don’t have the puck, you aren’t useless. And if you don’t have the puck, it’s up to you to go get it. You’ve got to make things happen,” said Kariya. “I’ve done that most of my life.”

He has been one of Maine’s most prolific scorers over the last 10 games with six goals and 10 assists.

“Marty has played very well,” said Begg. “He has improved his game and he will continue to do so. He works hard. He is a typical Kariya.”

He said last year’s 2-0 loss to eventual national champion North Dakota in the Frozen Four semifinals will serve as added incentive.

He has two brothers, Paul and Steve, who have led Maine to national championships in 1993 and 1999.

But he said their successes won’t put additional pressure on him.

“Obviously, I’d like to win one. But what they did won’t have an effect on me. We’ve got to go out and give it our all,” said Kariya.