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Zappala: From the Brink Back to the Rink

And, for the most part, these are not second-period goals that, after an even third, have a “GWG” tacked on them in the scoring summary. No. These are game-winning goals, and his eight lead the nation.

The Bulldogs are 3-0-0 in overtime this year. You-know-who has had the deciding goal each time.

“You always look to the clutch players, and I can’t think of a better way to describe him than that,” said linemate Ryan Steeves. “Everyone stands up on the bench a little when he’s on the ice.”

And with good reason. Zappala’s overtime winners came with 20 seconds, 24 seconds, and 3 seconds left, respectively. Talk about a flair for the dramatic. It’s as if the victory puck is forever tucked somewhere in the guy’s pants, and all he has to do is flip it onto the ice, swat it in, and watch everyone go berserk.

But even though it seems Zappala has the fiercely loyal Ingalls Rink fandom tightly wound on his finger, his demeanor is still that of the lunchpail-and-hardhat grinder. “I tell him all the time that he’s having a helluva season, and he just deflects the praise,” Steeves said. “It’s great to see such a level-headed kid be successful.”

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He knows how to take a joke, too. In reference to Zappala’s thick accent drawn from his Medford roots—check that, “Medfid” roots—Yale’s team trainer has taped foam “R’s” onto his locker.

“He can’t say his R’s,” Steeves said, laughing. “I’m from Canada, and I’ve never heard accents like his. I can’t hear a word he’s saying.”

Maybe Zappala should avoid careers that involve a lot of public speaking. Then again, that might not be an issue. If he keeps playing like this, Zappala is a good bet to find some paid work in the puck profession.

Just don’t expect him to get a big head about it.

“It’s definitely come as a total, fun surprise to me,” Zappala said. “I had no idea my season would be going the way it is. Things just seem to be going right, and I’m having a blast in the process.”

Hear that? This 20-year-old has the rare hat trick of humility, talent, and a sharply-defined focus. You might say it’s easier to put everything in perspective once your brain has been laid bare.

“He’s on a mission,” Steeves said. “That’s how you describe his life.”

Thanks to Zappala’s dogged determination, his college years haven’t been constrained by what happened on an operating table three years ago. No way. Joe Zappala—the student, the athlete, the person—is defined by his sweet successes since.

Having Their Number

You wouldn’t know it from watching them against Harvard, but the Colgate Raiders (15-8-3, 10-4-0 ECAC) stand one point behind league-leading Brown with eight games remaining.

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