With almost everyone already willing to engrave Chris Drury's name on it, and with everyone else touting Mike Crowley, I'd like to propose a CCHA candidate: Michigan's Bill Muckalt. Sure, I may be a bit biased, but let's look at some career numbers and achievements before dismissing Muckalt as a long shot. CROWLEY (U MINN) DRURY (BOSTON U) SEASON GP G A PTS GP G A PTS 1994-95 41 11 27 38 39 12 15 27 1995-96 42 17 46 63 37 35 32 67 1996-97 42 9 47 56 41 38 24 62 TOTALS 125 37 120 157 117 85 71 156 MUCKALT (U MICH) SEASON GP G A PTS 1994-95 39 19 18 37 1995-96 41 28 30 58 1996-97 36 26 38 64 TOTALS 116 73 86 159 It's possible that I could be completely overlooking someone else, but it appears that Muckalt is the leading returning scorer in Division I. He was third in NCAA points per game last season and could have posted bigger numbers if not for missing seven games due to injury. Muckalt has recorded 11-16--27 in 18 career post-season games and in 1996 scored goals in all three of Michigan's NCAA tournament games and assisted on the national championship winning goal. He's the CCHA active career leader in goals (47) and points (103) in league games. Unlike Crowley and Drury, both two-time All-America selections, Muckalt has (unfairly, IMO) performed in the shadow of Michigan's outstanding class of 1997. However, let's see how Muckalt's numbers compare to said group of Wolverines entering their senior seasons: ENTERING 1996-97 CAREER (FINAL) PLAYER GP G A PTS GP G A PTS MORRISON 112 71 125 196 155 102 182 284 BOTTERILL 108 67 58 125 150 104 82 186 MADDEN 118 54 63 117 160 80 100 180 LUHNING 114 50 62 112 157 72 85 157 LEGG 118 39 61 100 159 60 95 155 Barring injury, Muckalt will surely eclipse Botterill and Madden's career scoring totals. He's already in front of Luhning and Legg with a full season to play. Muckalt has an outstanding chance to become only the fourth Wolverine (Dave Debol, Denny Felsner, Brendan Morrison) to register 100 goals and 100 assists. Unfortunately, we live in a society where hype plays a significant role in most individual athletic honors. I'd hate to see Muckalt, or anyone else for that matter, out of the Hobey running before the first puck even hits the ice just because he isn't a household name. I'm reminded of Minn-Duluth's Chris Marinucci, who had an outstanding junior season playing with superstar senior Derek Plante. Marinucci followed that up with another solid season and copped the Hobey as everyone realized that he wasn't simply one of Derek Plante's wingers. I'm confident that Bill Muckalt will prove in 1997-98 that he isn't/wasn't simply one of Brendan Morrison's wingers. I'm very interested in hearing any and all responses you have to the above. Please post to the list or feel free to e-mail me directly. Thanks! John Haeussler [log in to unmask] HOCKEY-L is for discussion of college ice hockey; send information to [log in to unmask], The College Hockey Information List.