TIM
STAPLETON
Minnesota Duluth
Jr. | F | LaGrange Highlands, Ill.
Before
Stapleton accomplished the feat, the last UMD skater to
start his career with consecutive 40-point seasons was
Brett Hull.
Key
Statistics: First Bulldog in nearly two decades
to start his collegiate career with back-to-back 40-point
seasons (Brett Hull was the last Bulldog to do so). Stapleton
owns the best career points-per-game average (0.98) of any
current Bulldog. As a rookie, he became the first Minnesota
Duluth freshman in 26 years to win the team scoring title.
What
He Does: If you were to use one word to describe
Tim Stapleton, it would be "consistent." He followed
up a 40-point freshman year with 40 points last season and
played a vital role in the Bulldogs' first Frozen Four trip
since the days when Phil Collins
albums were a hot commodity. As Bulldogs coach Scott Sandelin
points out, a player for whom 40 points is an
"average" season is a nice commodity to have.
The
Bigger Picture: Sandelin says Stapleton is "as
talented as any player I've coached." Considering the
fact that as recently as this April, Sandelin had a Hobey
Baker Award winner to send over the boards, that's quite a
statement. Without imposing size, Stapleton instead is renowned
for being one of the more intelligent and speedy set-up men
in the WCHA. If the Bulldogs are to make a return trip to
the Frozen, they'll rely on that moxie even more this year.
Michigan
State coach Rick Comley on Stapleton: "I love
his skill and his hockey head. Tim is so typical of the guys
Scott (Sandelin) has brought into that program, who play the
game with their heads and work hard with
their bodies." — Jess Myers
