Gracing the cover of the Cyclone Hockey Media guide, above the words “The Dawn of a New Era,” is David Moline, captain of the 2005-06 Cyclones.

Moline came to Iowa State more than three years ago from Duluth, Minn., and he said since his arrival he has tried to be a model citizen, teammate and student. One of his biggest forms of support, however, has helped beyond hockey.

As an electrical engineering major, Moline said he has applied his parents’ never-ending support to his schoolwork, and it seemed to pay off as he received a 3.44 GPA last semester in one of the toughest programs at the university.

Luckily for the Cyclones, he has been able to take his off-ice work ethic and apply it to hockey, where it helps the team the most.

“He wouldn’t consider missing a practice, no matter how tired or worn-out he might be,” said coach Al Murdoch. “He’s the ideal role model for us.”

For some, having the captain’s “C” placed on their chest is overwhelming, but that has not been the case for Moline. The responsibilities that often accompany a captain just don’t seem to faze him.

“Whether I received the ‘C’ or not, we have older guys on the team that are all leaders,” Moline said. “I don’t care if I have the ‘C’ on or he has the ‘C’ on. I’m just going to try and do my best, and do the right thing.”

Captains tend to lead either by example or vocally, on and off the ice. Moline, however, said he is a cross between the two.

“I’ll pipe up and say a thing or two in the locker room before a game,” he said. “But I try to be more of a calmer guy that keeps his stuff together.”

Last season, Moline’s hard work and leadership paid off, and he was given the opportunity of a lifetime. Along with then-teammate Scott Hagen, he was selected to play for the United States in the World Games in Innsbruck, Austria. This gave them the opportunity to play in front of 15,000 hostile fans, against players of pro status from teams such as Austria, Korea, Italy, Slovakia, Ukraine and Finland.

“That was easily the most amazing hockey experience of my life,” Moline said. “It was a real cool feeling just wearing the USA sweater and having the whole experience of an international event.”

As a defense man, he doesn’t show up in the box score every night. He may not always get the press after regular games, but he said he doesn’t mind.

“That’s kind of something I accepted when I knew I was going to be a defense man,” Moline said. “My No. 1 job is to try and keep the puck out of the net. I try to pride myself on making the right play all the time.”

Last weekend, Moline helped push the Cyclones overall record to 29-5-1 with a goal and an assist in the Cyclones 4-2 and 4-3 victories over Kent State.

With the Cyclones on the verge of breaking the 30-win barrier, it looks as if the future has already arrived. Although Moline’s four years at Iowa State will be over after this season, he said he can leave knowing he helped bring Cyclone Hockey into a “new era.”