Except, perhaps, for interviews.

"Why Vuk? Why not me?" Ciavaglia questions.

"You get everything else," Vukonich says. "You're guaranteed at least three points before you step on the ice. I don't get any credit around here--I'm the unsung hero, the seventh player."

Vukonich is joking, but there is a grain of truth in these words. Even Ciavaglia recognizes it.

"[Mike's] not flashy, but he plays hard, outmuscles a lot of guys and gets off the shots," Ciavaglia says. "But he's not a big point scorer, and he doesn't get noticed a lot."

Maybe because it's hard to keep track of him. Vukonich (10 goals and six assists for 16 points this season) is big--6-ft., 1-in., and 205 lbs.--but he is also quick and one of the best end-to-end players on the Crimson.

"Mike is a great all-around player," junior C.J. Young says. "He covers all the ice when he's out there, and he's a great backchecker."

Missed Opportunity

Coach Cleary considered using Vukonich in Harvard's big scoring weapon, the five-forward power play. But an early-season bout with mononucleosis canceled his tryout. And another sophomore, Donato, came through with a more-than-solid performance.

"I was thinking of Mike for the power play because of his shooting ability," Cleary said. "But he got sick, and Teddy really played well."

When mono struck, life became rough for Vukonich. The man who had never missed a game for any reason, injuries included, had to sit out for seven straight.

"It was terrible," Vukonich says. "Just terrible. I don't even like to think about it."

But the toughest moment wasn't watching the games from the Bright Center press box or seeing Ciavaglia and Weisbrod pack for weekend road trips without him.

The roughest moment came listening to the Harvard-Army game on the radio--hearing that Weisbroad suffered a tough hit and was being taken to the hospital. That's when not being with the team was hardest.

"The worst thing was when John got hurt," Vukonich says. "I didn't know what was going on. I was trying to call the hospital and everything. On the radio they made it sound like he was crippled for life."