Peter Ciavaglia

He was the top scorer on the top hockey team in the nation.

No, it's not Lane MacDonald. Or even Allen Bourbeau.

Five Harvard hockey players broke the 50-point barrier this season, but Peter Ciavaglia--The Crimson's Sophomore Athlete of the Year--was the man with the golden touch on the ice.

Asked mid-season if he competed with roommates Ciavaglia and John Weisbrod for points, sophomore Mike Vukonich immediately conceded Ciavaglia's standout quality in an outstanding sophomore class.

"You can't compete with Pete," Vukonich said. "Any time he steps on the ice, he's guaranteed at least two points."

Vukonich wasn't far from the truth. With 63 points, Ciavaglia averaged just under two points per game during Harvard's 31-3 season. He topped the Crimson in scoring for the second-straight season--netting 33 points and Harvard Rookie of the Year honors as a freshman.

Ciavaglia stuffed in 15 goals--including a hat trick against Lake Superior State in the NCAA quarterfinals--but setting up the shots was his specialty. His 48 assists fell just two short of the Harvard season record set by Joe Cavanagh in 1970-71.

But Ciavaglia is certainly not a one-dimensional player. Just ask Lake Superior State Coach Frank Anzalone.

"Pete Ciavaglia should have been a Hobey Baker candidate, but we missed him," said Anzalone, a member of the Hobey Baker award selection committee. "He can take a hit, he can take a stick. He's tough player."

Ciavaglia's toughness was show-cased by his strong penalty-killing performance with partner Allen Bourbeau. In the ECAC tournament consolation game against Cornell, Harvard killed off six straight penalties--most of them thanks to the Ciavaglia-Bourbeau combination.

Anzalone may have missed Ciavaglia this year. But, after seeing him in the NCAA playoffs, he'll never forget him. And for good reason.