Varsity Club Hall of Fame Induction Class of 1996, Paul J. Mcdougall
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Jack Grinold, Director Office of Sports Information Northeastern University, 360 Huntington Avenue, Boston, MA 021 15 (617) 373-2691, (6 17) 373-31 52 (fax) FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: April 18, 1996 MCDOUGALL GOOD, BETTER, BEST AT NU In Paul McDougall's case, giving his best has been more than good enough. On Friday night, May 17th, Northeastern University in Boston will honor that attitude when it inducts the Peterborough native in formal athletic hall of fame ceremonies at Matthews Arena, where "Doogie" pli.ed his hockey trade. "My basic sports philosophy has always been pretty simple, I guess," said McDougall, a former All East centerman in divisi.on 1 at Northeastern and now a successful insurance broker in the Peterborough area. "To always give it my best." McDougall, Class of 1982, centered the premier li.ne of Northeastern's greatest team ever in 1982, when the Huskies won the ECAC (Eastern College Athletic Conference) Championship and finished as the third best team in the country. Coming out of the Peterborough Junior and high school ranks, he proceeded to take American collegiate hockey by storm, fini.shi.ng a brilliant four year career in which he missed just one game as the si.xth all-time leading scorer in Northeastern history. When the Huskies made their national championship run in 1982 with 25 victories, McDougall had his finest hour; he scored 25 goals, spearheaded the powerplay with 13 of those tallies, and commanded the penalty-killing unit. "He put the skates on this past winter for a family game up in Peterborough," said younger brother Mike, a former Husky varsity player and a stockbroker in Boston. "And not much had changed because he went through, by, and around everyone." At 5'9 and a shade over 165 pounds, he served as the pinion of a program that climbed from the league cellar to the school's first Beanpot Tournament Championship, ECAC Title, and, in between, the national limelight of North America's preeminent sports magazine. "Having Gerard (Gerry Cowie) with me in those early freshman days was a big help for a kid who'd never spent much ti.me in the bi.g ci.ty," explained McDougall. "The hockey part was a bit easier, eh." The effect of Dave Bowen's hockey tutelage at Pet erborough Hi. gh School had blossomed by the winter of 1981, when the Huskies under a legend of their own--NHL Hall of Farner Fern Flaman--had stormed to the number one spot in the country and the pages of Sports Illustrated. While posing on Huntington Avenue with teammates Sandy Beadle, a left winger, and Peterborough pal Cowie, McDougall and the Huskies were 11-0- 0 at the break. McDougall found himself somewhat of a household commodity in the ECAC by the time his junior year rolled around. A product of high school hockey when that was still a viable Canadian gateway to a high level, McDougall--toughened physically by his first love lacrosse and hockey prepared by his father Don (tryout with the Detroit Red Wings) and grandfather "Shrimp" (a major pro player)--made an indelible mark on an eastern hierarchy that comprised both the ECAC and current Hockey East Association. As a freshman in 1978-79, McDougall earned significant ice time on a line with right winger Cowie, and left winger Doug Harvey, and participated in the mythical "shot heard round the hockey world", or Wayne Turner's goal in overtime that beat Boston College and earned NU its first ever Beanpot Championship at Boston Garden. As a senior, McDougall established himself as one of the best players in college hockey. Amidst Northeastern's 25-9-2 march, he moved to six on the all-time list with 137 career points on an ECAC Championship squad that defeated UNH in the semifinals and Harvard in the championship game at Boston Garden. On Friday night, May 17th, Paul--along with his wife Arlene and daughters Erin and Sarah--will be giving their best to enjoy a lifetime of great hockey memories. .