The Arrival of Mr. Dependable

In the Vermont hockey media guide, his coach labels him "Mr. Dependable." But dependable is too dull a word to describe Ian Boyce.

Boyce, the Catamounts' captain and first-line left wing, is electric. He is fiersome. He is flashy.

No one can outskate him. Not Harvard's Lane MacDonald. Not Cornell's Trent Andison. Not St. Lawrence's Andy Pritchard.

Boom. Boyce is up the ice. Boom. He is back down it. Zip. Zap. "Boyce is one of the best all-around players in the league," UVM Coach Mike Gilligan says. "He can play both sides of the ice so well."

Boyce and first-line center Kyle McDonough have carried the Cats to the ECAC Final Four two years in a row. McDonough leads the team in scoring with 27 goals and 28 assists. Boyce is second with 15 goals and 26 assists. Throw in right-wing Jim Larkin (16 goals, 19 assists) and UVM sports one of the best lines in the country.

Harvard Coach Bill Cleary knows the Cats are capable.

"We realize the ability of that team," Cleary says. "They've got several players who can really skate and put the puck in the net."

Boyce's line will have to be at its best if the Cats are going to down Harvard, the nation's number-one ranked team, tonight at Boston Garden.

"It will take a perfect game to beat Harvard," Boyce says. "Well, if not a perfect game, then almost a perfect game. The rink in the Garden is a bit smaller than Harvard's used to, so we'll be able to control Harvard's speed somewhat."

But will Harvard be able to control Boyce's speed?

First he is behind his own net. Then he is in front of the other team's net. Then he is banging someone into the boards. Then he is at mid-ice, stealing the puck. Here, there, everywhere.

He is fast.

"We're going to set the tempo," Boyce says. "We're not going to let Harvard set it for us."

For a small player--Boyce stands 5-ft., 8-in. and weighs 170 lbs.--he is surprisingly aggressive. He likes to tangle with big defensemen in the corners.

He is fearless.

"We're used to playing a physicaltype game," Boyce says. "We like to bang into the boards and control the puck down low in the offensive zones."

Boston may be a three-hour drive from Burlington, Vt., but Boston Garden will look a lot like UVM's Gutterson Field House tonight. Last year, Vermont fans packed the Garden, filling it with screams of "Go, Cats, Go." This year, Vermont's share of ECAC Final Four tickets sold out just as quickly. The Burlington-to-Boston bus route will be popular this weekend.

"The feeling around campus these past couple of days has been tremendous," Boyce says. "The whole campus, the whole city of Burlington, has been supportive."

UVM fans did not always have a lot to cheer about. Last year's ECAC Final Four appearance was the Cats first in 13 years. When the Cats finished sixth in the regular season this year, it look like they would be staying home again. Back to the blues.

But Vermont upset Colgate in the quarterfinals. And Burlington is going back to Boston.

"A lot of our success has to do with Coach Gilligan and his attitude toward the school, the community and the players," Boyce says. "He makes sure he provides something for everyone, keeping everyone happy. He attracts the kind of athlete--the student-athlete--who is good for the program. And he has established a real competitive attitude."

He is gracious.

Saint Win

In last year's tournament, Vermont fell to St. Lawrence in the semifinals and lost to Harvard in the consolation game. But Boyce says the team profited from the experience.

"We were there last year," Boyce says. "Now we know what it's like to be there. I think we're going to do well this year."

He is ready.