Former Northeastern forward Dennis McCauley, now with the Portland Pirates of the AHL, has 24 points, already surpassing his total from last season. Although he is known for his physical play as he is tied for the team lead with 14 fights, McCauley credited his offensive success this year to spending four years playing in college. As he told the Portland Press-Herald:

"The only way to make it to the next level is you've got to play and you've got to bring more things to the table than just one thing. What I've been trying to do my whole career is to be the kind of guy who can score a goal and be a physical presence. There is no fighting in college, if you want to play, you've got to bring skills.?

"When I was out in Sioux City, I had an opportunity to leave and go play in the (Quebec Major Junior Hockey League), for Lewiston. It was one of those things where my father said if you go to school, you can develop your skills and you can get a degree out of it. He said the only way you're going to be able to play at the professional level is if you can do more than just fight."

McCauley graduated from Northeastern in 2009 with degrees in both marketing and management. Before college, he played two seasons for the Sioux City Musketeers of the USHL.

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