Near the end of their sophomore season, Leverett roommates Steve Flomenhoft, Matt Mallgrave and Ted Drury had a lot to say about the next year.

Flomenhoft, referring to the imminent departure of high-scoring, Superline seniors Ted Donato, Peter Ciavaglia and Mike Vukonich, said "You won't need anyone to score 50 points next season."

Mallgrave, with a smile on his face, added, "Except maybe Teddy. How's that for a little pressure?"

Accepting The Mantle

Well, it is now almost common knowledge in the hockey world--both amateur and professional--that Teddy Drury did not return the following year for his junior season. Instead, the Trumbull, Conn. native took his graceful speed and his Charmin-soft hands to Albertville, France as a member of the U.S. Olympic Hockey Team.

Only now has Drury returned for his junior year, and how high he and the Harvard men's hockey team which he captains can reach is now being asked in earnest.

The pressure which Mallgrave mentioned two years ago is certainly a factor, but the Crimson captain smoothly accepts the expectations and deflects the accolades.

When asked about goals for this season, both for the team and personally, Drury is straightforward.

"Harvard thinks every year that it can win the national championship," Drury says. "I think we have a team that can do it. We have 20 to 25 guys who are committed to that idea."

The 6'1", 190-lbs. forward reveals less about his individual aspirations, but a quiet smile comes onto his face as he talks about a "different role."

As Harvard Coach Ronn Tomassoni explains, Drury was used as a defensive specialist with the Olympic team, getting ice time mostly as a penalty-killer, though occasionally as a "shadow" for an opposing nation's main threat.

"People overlook his two-way skills," Tomassoni says. "In the ECAC quarterfinals his sophomore year, I used him to shadow Joe Juneau [currently playing for the Boston Bruins]."

Drury was more than willing to sacrifice his offensive game once again to play in Albertville.

"The summer before, when I went to camp, I said to myself that I would do anything to make the team," the Olympian says. "Obviously, the penalty-killing, defensive specialist role is not as glamorous."

"This year it's a different role," Drury happily explains.