After
scoring one goal in five games as a freshman, Paul
Dufault scored eight goals and 26 points in 33 games
for Harvard last year. (DSPics.com photo)
Key Statistics: Dufault
emerged as a solid point producer last season with eight
goals and 26 points in 33 games played. All of that
followed a freshman year in which he had one goal in
just five games.
What He Does: You won’t be surprised
to know that Kevin Du, Jon Pelle, and Dan Murphy were
Harvard’s three leading scorers one year ago,
but even the most avid ECAC Hockey League fan would
be hard pressed to remember that Dufault was fourth.
He centered sophomore classmates Pelle and Dave Watters
for much of the year and is a creative playmaker that
can distribute the puck. Dufault was one of two players
that shared the team’s Most Improved Player award
following the 2005-06 season.
The Bigger Picture: More
impressive than Dufault’s on-ice emergence as
a second line center behind Du was how he handled reserve
duty as a freshman. Even though he was out of the lineup
most weekends, Dufault remained one of the Harvard’s
hardest workers and has improved his strength, quickness,
and skating since being at Harvard. He and Du will give
Harvard a strong 1-2 punch at center this season.
Harvard head coach Ted Donato
on Dufault: "He is a role model for other
players, and how we want them to handle adversity. He
never complained and worked hard to earn everything
he has.”
After
scoring one goal in five games as a freshman, Paul
Dufault scored eight goals and 26 points in 33 games
for Harvard last year. (DSPics.com photo)