The Lawrence native grew up in Concord and attended one of the nation's premier hockey prep schools, Belmont Hill. Success followed Coughlin there as well, for Belmont Hill won the prestigious prep school championship in his junior year and was one double-overtime goal away from another title in his senior year.

Athletes from sports around the globe agree that with the title of "captain" comes certain responsibilities and expectations. The captainship also has been known to change players' styles with their newfound title. But just how will the status change Coughlin?

"I definitely will need to step up and voice an opinion, and work harder so everyone else will step it up," he says. "My own confidence level has definitely been boosted, as well."

He's Not Number 13

The title has not changed Coughlin's superstitious habits, though. Along with other members of the team, Coughlin makes sure that his newly-taped sticks never touch the ground before game-time.

Did somebody say school spirit? Coughlin also makes sure that he watches "Crimson Character", a video detailing the story of Harvard's 1989 NCAA Championship season, before each game.

"I also don't like myself or other players saying that we're going to win (the national championship), we might jinx ourselves like baseball players saying 'the pitcher has a no-hitter,'" he said. (You can get the player out of baseball, maybe, but for Coughlin you can't get baseball out of the player.)

As Coughlin looks back on his illustrious Harvard career (of course hints that there will be more memorable moments to come), he fondly remembers his first game as a Yardling.

"It was my first regular season home game, against Union--I actually scored a couple goals," he says. "To play in a Harvard uniform and to actually contribute, that was pretty special."

Coughlin also remembers scoring an important goal against RPI in last year's ECAC tournament, firing a slap shot past Philadelphia Flyers' draftee Neil Little.

(Super-goalie Little is now playing alongside departed Crimson standout Aaron Israel for the Hershey Bears of the AHL)

One rough spot for Coughlin and the Crimson was last year's semifinals of the national championship, a 3-2 overtime loss to eventual champion Lake Superior State.

"[The game against Lake State] doesn't affect us too much now, but in the back of our heads its pretty significant, making us more determined to progress further," he says. "It was a difficult loss, but we have other things to focus on now."

Reflecting on his three years with Harvard hockey, a trend becomes remarkably clear to Coughlin.

"My freshman year we were eliminated by RPI early, my sophomore year Northern Michigan beat us in double-overtime in the quarterfinals, and then last year's loss came in the semis. It seems that every year that I've been here we've gotten closer and closer..."

But then Coughlin trails off.

He wouldn't want to jinx the team now, would he?