Not that their are many candidates, but center Jay Beagle might be the best bet as the next former UAA Seawolves skater to ascend to the NHL.

Less than a year after leaving UAA following his sophomore season, Beagle already has won a Kelly Cup with the Idaho Steelheads in the ECHL. And now he's flourishing with the Hershey Bears in the American Hockey League, one step below the world's best league.

In Hershey, which is affiliated with the Washington Capitals, Beagle owns 8-5--13 totals and an even plus-minus rating in 20 games. He is tied for second on the team in goals and fourth in points. Not bad for a guy who only has 46 pro games under his belt, playoffs included.

Beagle, 22, is a 6-foot-3, 200-pounder who is good in the face-off circle and has played on both special teams this season. It probably doesn't hurt either that the big club, the Caps, entered Tuesday with the fewest points in the NHL.

For trivia buffs, six former UAA players have ascended to the NHL (active players are linked): winger Mike Peluso (he played D in college), winger Rob Conn, defenseman Jeff Batters (who died in an auto accident in 1996), goaltender Gregg Naumenko, defenseman Duvie Westcott and winger Curtis Glencross. Westcott and Glencross currently play for the Columbus Blue Jackets.