STEVE QUAILER

Northeastern

So. | F | Arvada, Colo.

Steve Quailer will have an increased role - and perhaps a new position - after the graduation of Ryan Ginand and Joe Vitale.

Key Statistics: Qualier earned Hockey East All-Rookie Team honors and was the Huskies’ rookie of the year after posting 10 goals and 25 points, good for third and fourth on the team, respectively. The Montreal Canadiens’ third-round pick in 2008 returns as the club’s second-best offensive threat behind junior Wade McLeod.

What He Does: At 6-foot-3 and just 185 pounds as a freshman, Quailer might look like the teen who sprouted up too quickly. His hockey sense and skill level have helped him overcome any awkwardness, and he can utilize his reach effectively along the wall and in front of the net.

The Bigger Picture: Head coach Greg Cronin’s teams are known for off-ice dedication, and Quailer has been a weight-room regular to put muscle on that tall frame, staying on campus for the first half of the summer. The Huskies will expect much more from him as a sophomore, including a potential position switch to center. There he’d have added defensive responsibilities and need to take faceoffs, but his intelligence on the ice should make the transition easier - and could make him even more dangerous offensively with more room to work.

Northeastern assistant coach Sebastien Laplante on Quailer: “He was a relative unknown a few years back playing midget hockey in Colorado. He did a very good job adjusting to the USHL and, again, a very good job stepping in as a freshman here. He’s a very smart kid on the ice and that allows him to make those leaps from one level to the next.”