As part of its 50th anniversary celebration, ECAC Hockey has comprised a group of its top 50 players to recognize the storied history of the League and honor its significant players. Clarkson University Hockey standout defenseman Brian Mueller (1991-95) was among the first to be recognized as the League today announced the first installment of honorees as part of its top 50 players of all-time.

The top 50 players were determined by a selection committee made up of former coaches and media members. These honorees were tallied from 145 players (47 defenseman; 73 forwards; and 25 goaltenders).

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The first segment of honorees includes: Along with Mueller, Rensselaer forward Bob Brinkworth, a two-time ECAC Hockey Player of the Year who ranks third all-time in NCAA history averaging 1.54 goals per goal; Ken Dryden, goaltender at Cornell, a three-time all-America and all-League selection who guided the Big Red to the 1967 League and NCAA titles; Mark Fusco, a defenseman at Harvard, the first defenseman to be named ECAC Hockey Player of the Year and first collegiate defenseman to win the Hobey Baker Award; and Boston College forward Joe Mullen, a two-time all-League selection who was part of the 1970-79 ECAC Hockey All-Decade squad.

Brian Mueller - Clarkson University - Defenseman, (1991-95) - Liverpool, New York

Was a leading contributor on three Clarkson NCAA Tournament teams and served as a co-captain of the 1994-95 Golden Knight squad which won the ECAC Regular Season title … A top ten candidate for the 1995 Hobey Baker Award … Two-Time All-America First Team (1994-95)... Two-Time All-Conference First Team, only unanimous selection in both 1994 and 1995 ... 1992 All-Rookie selection ... 1990-99 ECAC Hockey All-Decade First Team ... 1995 ECAC Hockey All-Tournament Selection ... Member of 1993 League Champions ... Selected to play in 1995 Shrine Senior East-West All-Star Game … Amassed 39 Goals and 117 Assists in 131 Collegiate Contests ... Posted a Team-Best 42 Assists in 1994-95, leading all ECAC defensemen ... Ranks Tied for First All-Time Among Clarkson Defensemen with 117 Assists ... One of Only Five Clarkson Defenders to Record 100-Plus Points, and One of Only Two (Bill Blackwood) to Amass 150-Plus Points in a Career … Was a 1991 NHL Draft choice of the Hartford Whalers (7th round – 141st).

All current and former teams’ impactful players, including those from Boston College, Boston University, New Hampshire, Middlebury, Army, etc... were reviewed in comprising the list of candidates for the special team. Five players from the top 50 all-time team will be released every two weeks throughout the season leading up the championship in March 18-19 in Atlantic City, New Jersey.

Throughout its history, ECAC Hockey has been home to seven NCAA men’s championship teams, witnessed over 15,000 games, produced more than 500 National Hockey Leaguers, nearly 300 All-Americans, three Hobey Baker Memorial Award winners, and over 1,100 student-athletes who have earned All-Academic honors since 1999-00, the first year the League recognized these individuals.

"We are extremely proud and honored to recognize the outstanding individuals who are the fabric of our great League and its tremendous history, “ commented Steve Hagwell, Commissioner, ECAC Hockey. “While we will recognize the accomplishments of an extraordinary group of 50 individuals over the course of the year, the League pays tribute to the countless student-athletes, coaches, administrators, and staff who have contributed significantly to building the foundation of the League over the course of 50 years.”

Hagwell remarked, “the selection of 50 players was an extremely difficult task given the vast number of deserving candidates. We truly are indebted to the individuals who comprise the selection committee for their valuable insight and great work."

The top 50 players were determined by a vote of a selection committee of 10 individuals, which include Joe Bertagna, former student-athlete at Harvard, former hockey commissioner of the ECAC and current commissioner of Hockey East, Ed Carpenter, former Sports Information Director at Boston U.; Bill Cleary, former student-athlete, head coach and director of athletics at Harvard; John Connolly, long-time sports reporter at the Boston Herald; Dan Fridgen, former student-athlete at Colgate and former head coach at RPI; Mike Gilligan, former head coach at Yale (interim) and Vermont; Lou Lamoriello, former student-athlete and head coach at Providence and current CEO/President/General Manager of the New Jersey Devils; Mark Morris, former student-athlete at Colgate and former head coach at Clarkson; Tim Taylor, former student-athlete at Harvard and former head coach at Yale; and Adam Wodon, editor of the College Hockey News Web site.