You can't learn how to spell before you've mastered your A-B-Cs. Turns out that's the best way to preview the college hockey season as well. For the fifth year in a row we present
Inside College Hockey A to Z, an alphabetical look at a player you need to know from all 58 colleges in Division I. In this installment, we move from B to C thanks to a pair of forwards — one representing AIC with the initials "CC" and one from BC with the intials "BB," a former MVP who spent most of last season on the IR. And both will wear the "C" for their respective teams in 2008-09.
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CHRIS CAMPANALE
American International
Jr. | F | Chester Springs, Pa.
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A former walk-on, Campanale will captain the Yellow Jackets in 2008-09. |
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Key Statistics: Campanale started to find his way as a sophomore, posting six goals, nine assists, and 15 points in 33 games for the Yellow Jackets. He ranked sixth in team goals and points and eighth in assists. He saw limited action as a freshman, posting no points in 10 games. Campanale showed a bit of rugged play in his final year of juniors, totaling 66 penalty minutes, seven goals and 15 assists in 43 games with the Green Mountain (Vt.) Glades of the Eastern Junior Hockey League.
What He Does: Campanale has good size at 6 feet, 190 pounds. He spent much of his sophomore season playing on a third line with left winger Tom Mele and center David Turco, and all of them return for next season. The right winger even drew time with talented center Jereme Tendler late in the season. Campanale shows smarts on the ice and in the classroom: he is a Dean’s List student at AIC and a member of the Atlantic Hockey All-Academic team, majoring in sports and recreation management.
The Bigger Picture: You are not going to find many walk-on players in all of Division I hockey, and even fewer who have earned respect and worked their way to become a team captain. Campanale will be counted on to pick up his production and fill a void left by seven graduated players.
AIC head coach Gary Wright on Campanale: “He is a tremendously committed individual, both on the ice and in the weight room, and his character and coachability is beyond reproach. We are sure glad to have him at AIC.’’
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