Where the NHL future of former captain Dominic Moore ’03 is concerned, the question isn’t “If?” but “When?”

Moore, now playing with the Hartford Wolf Pack, the American Hockey League affiliate of the New York Rangers, made such a big impression during the team’s training camp that he has drawn the attention of the Rangers front office and the New York media.

“We have no hesitation about giving him a look [in the NHL] at some point—and some point soon,” said Don Maloney, Rangers vice president of player personnel and assistant general manager. “We’re almost curious to see how he comes back and plays against the big boys. We’re starting the season with a veteran lineup, but if things don’t turn around soon, he might get a look even sooner than he thinks.”

Moore also garnered a mention in the New York Times from Rangers coach Glen Sather, on the decision not to bring Moore up to the NHL when Eric Lindros went down with an injury.

“The obvious answer is that he’s not quite ready to be here yet and I don’t want to force-feed him. I don’t want to have him make mistakes here and then send him back to the minors on a down note. I’d rather let him have the opportunity to make the team permanently.”

“Permanently” has a nice ring to it.

So do the words of praise from the famously tough-to-please New York media—like “promising” and “top prospect”—that have been dropped next to Moore’s name in various stories.

They certainly seem to suggest that this Ivy Leaguer represents real, true hope for the Broadway Blueshirts, a franchise best-known in recent years for its depressing ratio of games won per dollars spent.

So wipe that proud tear off your cheeks, Harvard hockey fans. One of your own is about to make it big.

“He’s really not very far away from getting a look—and not only getting a look, but an extended look,” Maloney said. “I would be stunned if that doesn’t happen.”

And yet, when talking to Moore, he gives no indication that so many people are counting on him. The personality of Dominic Moore the professional isn’t much different than Dominic Moore the student-athlete—no matter how many zeros he has on his salary (and trust that there are more than a few).

He’s more likely to talk about how happy he is that his brother Steve (’01, also a Harvard captain) was recently promoted by the Colorado Avalanche, or say that he hopes to catch as many Harvard games as possible (he’s expecting big things from his old mates).

And Moore will gladly admit that, while playing hockey for a living is fine by him, there are plenty of times he wishes he’s back at Quincy House with midterms to take.

“I definitely miss college—it’s a unique experience,” said Moore, an All-American and the most decorated Harvard hockey player in a decade. “You have a lot more free time as a [pro] hockey player. You practice in the morning and then have the rest of the day off.

“There’s not a whole lot to do in Hartford, and I don’t have a car yet, so I can’t move around too much. I wish I had some homework or something to do.”