Why Is He Here?

While Harvard hockey fans gleefully await tonight's home opener against Union, Bruce Delventhal, the coach of the Skating Dutchmen must be blaming Friday the 13th for his ill luck.

Delventhal, like most others not directly associated with Harvard hockey, must wonder why Drury, a second-round draft pick of the NHL's Calgary Flames, returned to bedevil Harvard's ECAC opponents.

Though No. 18 suited him quite well as a member of the U.S. squad, suiting up as No. 18 for the Crimson makes Drury a certified anomaly among his Albertville teammates, most of whom are now playing as professionals.

"I was pretty sure I was coming back," Drury says. "Though I won't say I didn't have a few doubts."

Tomassoni, who has watched Hobey Baker Award winners Scott Fusco and Lane MacDonald play for Olympic teams and then return for highly successful seasons for the Crimson, was not surprised atall by Drury's decision.

"A boy that comes here is committed to gettinga good education," Tomassoni says. "Knowing Teddyand Teddy's family as I do, it was obviously veryimportant that he come back. It says an awful lotabout him as a person that he came back."

It also says a lot about his patience. EveryECAC player who made the Canadian Olympic teamalso left the league behind after Albertville,according to Tomassoni. That includes Cornell'sKent Manderville, who edged out Drury for IvyLeague Rookie of the Year in 1990.

"For me personally, it [coming back] was theright thing to do," Drury affirms. "I wassurprised that Manderville and [Cornell teammateDan] Ratuchsny did not come back. I just hope allthose guys are happy and don't have any secondthoughts."

Drury's professional ambitions, despite hiscurrent decision, are still strong. Afterfinishing at Harvard, he will hope No. 18 is stillfree in Calgary red and yellow.

"I will definitely pursue that, but the Flames[who drafted Drury out of high school] are beingpatient with me," Drury says. "Basically, when I'mready we'll get together and figure it out."

Another intriguing issue is the 1994Lillehammer Winter Games.

Though disruptive for Drury--to graduate, hewould have to take another leave of absence,extending his Harvard stay to six years, and putoff the Flames a bit longer. Of course, if the NHLdecides to send a Dream Team of its own in 1994(an option currently under discussion), the 1992Olympic veteran will not have to trouble himselfover that decision.

The College Game

Drury's return is doubly special because hewill wear the "C" on the upper left side of hisjersey. Only George Owen, back in 1922, has alsobeen the Crimson captain as an underclassman.

As the Crimson's official leader, Drury haslearned quickly the etiquette of being the star ina team sport. He knows other teams will try to"shadow" him, but points out that other playerswill make their contributions as well.