Craig's
scoring dropped by 16 points in 2003-04, but he still
led Quinnipiac offensively.
Key
Statistics: Led the injury-riddled Bobcats with 25
points (13 goals, 12 assists) as a junior, one year after
tying for the league lead in scoring with 41 points (18-23).
Had 31 points as a freshman. His 106 shots paced Quinnipiac
last year, and his 40 penalty minutes were fifth most on the
team.
What
He Does: Craig is one of the most offensively gifted
players in Atlantic Hockey. He can generate scoring chances
with his skating and stickhandling abilities, as well as solid
positioning. Around the crease, Craig seems to have a certain,
indefinable knack for putting the puck in the net. But while
his offensive star burns brightest, Craig also is dependable
in other facets of the game. Coach Rand Pecknold labels him
as “solid” defensively, and he declared Craig
to be the team’s best at winning faceoffs.
The
Bigger Picture: Craig's creativity is an asset Atlantic
Hockey, as a league, would like to have more of. He can bring
people out of their seats once in a while, which is the brand
of hockey that will lure more fans to league games. For his
team, Craig will be a focal point of a potentially explosive
offense this year. However, the senior must bounce back from
a sub-par season – statistically – last year.
Quinnipiac
coach Rand Pecknold on Craig: “He’ll
be down low in a pileup of four or five players and it will
look like there’s nothing going on. Then all of a sudden,
he’ll be stickhandling out of it from the corner and
he’ll come in and get a good shot on net. He’s
not just a pure shooter, and he’s not just a pure passer.
He’s kind of a ‘tweener, but he’s very dynamic.”
