All the recent discussion of Hobey hopefuls, national scoring leaders,
and Maine freshman sensation Paul Kariya brings up a few questions.
 
According to the guru (Mike M.), Kariya is 11-24 for 35 points in 12
games for the Black Bears, averaging 2.917 ppg.  However, remember that
2 of Maine's games were non-Division I encounters with the University
of New Brunswick.  It won't surprise most of you to hear that Maine
won both of those encounters by scores of 9-2 and 11-1.  In those
games Kariya was 1-3 and 1-4 (respectively) for 9 total points according
to the boxes posted to HOCKEY-L.  He scored 4.50 ppg in those two games
but with those games gone he is 9-17 for 26 points in 10 Division I
games for an average of 2.600 ppg, impressive nonetheless.  (Don't even
need a math degree to figure that one out).
 
The $64,000 question appears to be whether or not non-Division I or
exhibition games are taken into account when considering the Hobey
hopefuls?  Personally, I would hope they aren't, since some teams
don't schedule any non-Division I opponents it would be unfair.
Taking these games into account provides too much incentive for
teams with potential candidates to schedule easy opponents and then
run up the score on them.  (I'm not implying in any way that Maine
did this, but arguments are of course welcome.... )
 
And while we're on the subject I was a bit surprised and quite
disapponted to see SLU's Greg Carvel missing from the list of
Hobey hopefuls published by THN.  (But what do they know?? Their
preseason preview left SLU's leading scorers Carvel and Lee
Albert of the list of returning veterans and they picked the
Saints to finish 6th in the ECAC. Hah !!!)
 
Carvel, a Canton native and the Saints captain, is off to a blazing
10-11 start for 21 points in 8 games (that's 2.625 ppg, higher than
Kariya's 2.600 ppg for Division I games ).  He notched his second hat
trick of the season and added two assists in SLU's 6-6 tie with BC.
Adding to his credentials, Carvel has won the academic award each of
his three previous seasons on the team.  I don't know his exact GPA,
but he will surely be graduating Magna Cum Laude in May.  Carvel
epitomizes the Hobey Baker award requirements on and off the ice.
Regardless of how you feel about Kariya's consideration because
of his as-yet unproven off-ice character, Carvel has proven himself
and has stepped into the role of team leader with grace and style.
 
And don't forget Carvel's linemate, assistant captain Lee Albert.
Albert went 2-3 in the BC game and notched 6 helpers against
Northeastern earlier in the season.  He is hot on Carvel's
heels with 6 goals and 12 assists for 18 points in 8 games.
(2.250 ppg).  Albert is a junior academically but a senior in
eligiblity.
 
Whoever it was who called for a list of national scoring leaders,
I add to the call.  Let's see if anyone else was left off the
list that deserves consideration.
 
Tim