Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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ND Sports Irish Captain Brings Leadership By Intimidation By Dan Murphy T here are "rah-rah" leaders who inspire their teams with speeches and praise. There are "by example" leaders who motivate teammates by always working hard. And then there's Irish captain Jeff Costello, who plans to lead Notre Dame's hockey team into a new and talented conference with a stern glance and good old-fashioned fear. Considered the toughest and strongest player on Notre Dame's roster this season, Costello added the "C" to his puffed-up chest this month after his teammates and coaches decided he was the best suited to take the reins of captain for a 10-man senior year class in their first year in Hockey East. Irish head coach Jeff Jackson said he picked Costello because the senior commands respect. "He may not be the real loud screamer," Jackson said. "But I think when he speaks the other guys listen, because he probably would tear their heads off if they didn't." Costello, a physical forward on the ice as well, didn't dispute his coach. "Metaphorically, that's pretty accurate," he said. The Milwaukee native isn't the stereotypical captain type. His production during the past two seasons has been stymied by injury. He missed 12 games as a sophomore and eight last season with a variety of bumps and bruises that come from his style of play. He did, however, manage to tally 30 points a year ago (11 goals and 19 assists) — the third highest total on the team. He's also had trouble controlling his temper at times — part of the price that comes with his leadership-byintimidation attitude. He finished in the top three on the team in penalty minutes in each of the last two seasons. Jackson said both of those problems would have to change for him to be an effective leader in his final season. "He has to stay healthy," Jackson said. "We need him to stay in the lineup, and I want to see him make a real effort to improve his game this year so he can even have a more significant role. That wouldn't just be on the ice but off the ice as well." Three other seniors — T.J. Tynan, Stephen Johns and Bryan Rust — will serve as alternate captains this season. Tynan and Johns also have emotional control at the top of their to-do list heading into the regular season. Johns, who led the team with 62 minutes in the box a year ago, has been goaded into using his size (6-4, 235 pounds) to deliver big blows that leave him out of position and cost the Irish goals on defense. Tynan, an undersized playmaker at 5-9 and 165 pounds, has to deal with the opposite end of the spectrum. The pesky forward is often