Five games into the season, junior forward Ollie Koo leads the men’s ice hockey team with five goals and five assists for a total of 10 points. He had eight points on three goals and five assists in three straight wins last week, when the Polar Bears improved to 4-0-1. 
The second-year starter recorded two assists in the 4-2 victory against University of New England last Tuesday. Over the weekend, he continued his strong play with another pair of assists in the 6-5 win against Salve Regina and then capped off the weekend with a hat trick in the opening period of the 5-2 triumph against Suffolk on Sunday. 
Koo credits his teammates for putting him in a good position to garner these impressive statistics. 
“Harry Matheson ’14 and Dan Weiniger ’13 found ways to get me the puck in open areas in front of the net. It’s been pretty easy for me to score goals,” said Koo. “A lot of it has to do with those two guys.” 
With 10 points this season, Koo leads the NESCAC. On Wednesday, he was named NESCAC Men’s Ice Hockey Player of the Week. In a matter-of-fact manner, Koo expresses that this scoring is simply part of his role on the team.
“Leading the team in points is not really something I ever think about,” said Koo. “I am depended upon to produce to help the team win.” 
“You look at his production—and the nagging things he’s dealing with injury-wise—and it’s even more impressive,” said Head Coach Terry Meagher.
More important for both Koo and Meagher is that Bowdoin is second in the NESCAC—the only squad without a loss. 
If it were not for the tie against Middlebury, the Polar Bears would be in first place in the conference. Koo scored his first two goals of the season in the 4-4 overtime game against the Panthers. 
“It felt more like a loss than a tie, especially because of the rivalry with Middlebury,” said Koo. 
 “His two big goals against Middlebury were very timely,” Meagher said. “He is a highly skilled player and his smoothness and flow is aesthetically pleasing.” 
The Polar Bears must wait until January 19 to face the Panthers again for another chance to avenge the loss they suffered at the hands of the Panthers in last year’s NESCAC Semifinals.
“We want to try to win a national championship,” said Koo. 
For now, however, the focus for Koo and the rest of the team is tomorrow’s game against Colby. Although the Polar Bears are favored in the matchup, Koo is wary of becoming lackadaisical against the Mules (1-4-0, 0-2-0). 
“I don’t think they’re that strong on paper but it doesn’t really matter when it comes to the rivalry between the two teams,” said Koo. “If we are in last place and they are in first place it’s going to be a good game no matter what and vice-versa. We can’t take them lightly by any means.”
It is Koo’s veteran mindset on the ice of which Meagher is most proud. 
“We expect him to lead by example and be a positive role model, but also know what it takes to win,” he said.  
Koo plans to bring, “hopefully some more goals” onto the ice this Friday. With any luck, the sold-out Bowdoin audience will remember not to bring their favorite hat into Watson Arena, just in case Koo scores another hat-trick against the Mules.