Captain Coughlin.

The name just oozes tradition, doesn't it?

All alliteration aside, Ben Coughlin epitomizes the calm, motivated team captain, a persona that seems to surface every year for the Harvard men's hockey team.

Always setting the example, always elevating his game another notch, Coughlin assumes the role of captain in the exact sense that it was established.

You mention individual goals, but Coughlin would rather emphasize that there is no "I" in "team."

"Being the elected captain, I try and set an example for the team since I'm expected to be a leader," Coughlin says. "I just try to approach each practice, each game with a great deal of enthusiasm."

Such an attitude seems just the tonic needed to soothe the team's national championship concerns. Granted, the regular season has yet to begin, but those are the pressures that face every Harvard captain, and Coughlin takes the reins as if brought up that way.

Even when discussing the goals of the team this year, Coughlin admirably focuses on pride and committment, rather than on specific, material accomplishments.

"The character of the team is important, taking pride in being disciplined, having focus," he says. "If we concentrate on those things, then we will be successful."

Put Me In Coach...

From such inauspicious beginnings in the sport as he had, one would have never predicted that Ben Coughlin would end up at Harvard, leading one of the country's finest hockey programs in their quest for the ultimate goals.

Baseball was the first sport of the Coughlin family, and it wasn't until the grand old age of six or seven when Ben finally laced up the skates--rather late to hit the ice in comparison to his Crimson teammates.

But Coughlin's work ethic made up for his tardy start.

"Baseball always came easy to me, but as I got older I worked harder at hockey," Coughlin said. "When the college decision came, I knew that I wanted to play hockey. I had second thoughts about not playing baseball and soccer, but looking back I wouldn't change a thing, no regrets."

Harvard certainly is happy with the decision. Coughlin has been one of the Crimson's most consistent performers, contributing 12 goals and 17 assists last year while playing in all of the team's 33 games.