Cooch Owen Sees Himself As Most Underrated Star

On the eve of the hockey national championships, Cooch Owen predicted that Harvard's chances depended on the night life in Syracuse: "Out in Colorado two years ago there was a lot of action. Topless joints and things like that. But from what I hear about Syracuse. the team will be so bored after two days that they will be forced to play good hockey."

Owen, a senior, began playing hockey at Noble and Greenough when he was thirteen. He played a year at Choate before coming to Harvard where he has teamed up with Joe Cavanagh and Dan DeMichele for the past four years.

"I'm a record-watcher. Monk and Joe break all the records and I just sit around and watch," he said. Cavanagh, an All-America choice his sophomore and junior years, is second in all-time Harvard scoring, and owns numerous records in assists. DeMichele set the Ivy League record for goals in a season this year.

"Cavanagh gets all the ink. DeMichele gets all the goals, and I'm the forgotten man. But I'm still third in all-time scoring; DeMichele is only fourth," he said.

Owen attributes his relatively low goal production to his role as feeder. "DeMichele stands out in front of the cage all the time, and since there isn't room for both of us. I let him score all of my goals."

A little disgruntled by the raves which the sophomore line drew in the ECAC's, Owen said that the roles will be reversed in the Nationals.

"They can play defense this time and leave the scoring to us. Anybody can backcheck and DeMichele and I just wanted to prove it. We showed we know how to play defense, so now we'll go back to scoring goals. It's more fun. The senior line isn't dead yet."

As soon as the Nationals are over Owen will join the golf team on their Southern trip. "After hockey I need a rest, so I'll fly down to Florida for a week to pick up a suntan." He played at number three on last year's team.

Owen plans to play in the Eastern Amateur Hockey League after he graduates, and may try out for the 1972 Olympic team. He sees no reason to make any other plans for the future.

"As long as you're single you don't need much money, and when I do get married it will be to someone with a Leer jet and a waterbed."