Paul Harris Class: Senior Hometown: Ridgefield, Connecticut High School: Huron (MI) High School Height / Weight: 6-2 / 218 Position: Defenseman Birthdate: 03/23/1981 Previous Team: USA National Under-18 Team

Returns for his third season as a member of the Irish defensive corps ... playing time in first two seasons has been limited by injuries (has played in just 28 games over his first two years) ... one of two juniors on a young Irish blue line (two juniors, four sophomores and two freshmen) ... will challenge for one of the top six defensive slots in 2001-02 ... was one of just five Notre Dame players to be even or plus on the season as he finished with a +5 rating in 19 games ... combines size and competitiveness with a solid knowledge of the game ... a classic stay-at-home defenseman who moves the puck quickly in his own zone ... makes smart plays in pressure situations ... got his chance to play in 2000-01 after Evan Nielsen came down with the flu at the Maverick Classic in Omaha, Neb. (Oct. 13) ... freshman-year production was limited due to health reasons ... late bloomer who didn’t begin playing hockey until he was 10 years old ...made major strides while playing in USA Hockey National Development Program ... proved to a capable penalty killer with USA program ...one of three Connecticut natives to have lettered as members of the Irish hockey program joining center Mark Anquilare (West Haven, 1984-86) and goaltender Don Smith (Westport, 1973-74) ... noteworthy former Irish players who have worn No. 4 include center/defenseman Ric Schafer (‘70-’74, 27g-40a in 139 career games), defensemen Roger Bourque (’73-’77, 6g-40a in 118 GP) and Jeff Brownschidle (’77-’81, 30g-91a in 146 GP).

AS A SOPHOMORE: Played in 19 games as a sophomore collecting a goal and three assists for four points ... had just eight shots on goal ... whistled for five penalties and ten penalty minutes ... had a +5 plus-minus for the year ... picked up first collegiate point with an assist in 6-4 win against Northeastern (Oct. 20) ... made it a two-game point streak when he assisted on an Irish goal in the 5-3 loss to the visiting Huskies ... scored his first collegiate goal on Dec. 29 in opening game of the HSBC/Rensselaer Holiday Tournament at Troy, N.Y. ... beat St. Lawrence’s Jeremy Symington with a rising slapshot from the right point in a 6-3 loss to the Saints ... added an assist in third place game loss to RPI the following night ... played just four more games the remainder of the season as a nagging shoulder injury kept him on the shelf.

AS A FRESHMAN: Appeared in six of the first 10 games and nine of the first 20 before being sidelined in midseason due to surgery that removed a cyst from his neck ... totaled seven shots on goal, plus two penalties (four minutes) and a -2 plus-minus ratio ... made first appearance in second game of season (a 6-1 loss to Michigan), skating alongside senior Nathan Borega ... went on to skate alongside senior Tyson Fraser in three games ... paired with sophomore Sam Cornelius for both games at Nebraska Omaha and with Nielsen for pair of mid-December games ... suited up as a seventh defenseman for Dec. 20 game vs. Princeton ... skated in wins over Union (4-0), and UMass (5-3), plus ties with Miami and UNO (both 2-2).

WITH USA HOCKEY: Mainstay with the USA Developmental Program for two seasons, totaling eight goals and 10 assists in 110 games over two seasons ... his ’98-’99 stats included five goals, nine assists in 69 games while helping USA post the USHL’s best penalty-kill percentage (.882) ... his ’97-’98 stats included three goals, one assist in 41 games ... graduated from Ann Arbor’s Huron High School ... scored go-ahead goal in final game of ’99 Five Nations Tournament (vs. Russia), giving USA the gold medal in Prague, Czech Republic ... also played in under-18 world championship in Fussen, Germany ... played for USA under-17 team that won silver medal at ’98 Western International Tournament in Swift Current, Sask. ... Two-year member of the USA National Developmental Program ... one of nine former NDP players on the current Irish roster ... reunited at Notre Dame with two other two-year NDP teammates: center Connor Dunlop and forward John Wroblewski (junior right wing Michael Chin played with the NDP in ’97-’98).

PREP & PERSONAL: Played two seasons for the Salisbury (Conn.) High School hockey team ... earned distinction as only freshman on varsity hockey team in ’95-’96 ... named captain of Salisbury hockey team for junior season before being selected for the USA Developmental Program ... saw action for the New England-area team at annual USA Hockey select-15 and 16 festivals ... named to sophomore all-star team at ’96 Hockey Night in Boston (HNIB) ... played for Connecticut team at ’97 HNIB ... father Al Harris played football at Mississippi ... his sister Julie Harris is a senior goalkeeper on the nationally-ranked University of Virginia women’s soccer team ... son of Al and Dee Harris ... full name is Paul Taylor Harris ... born March 23, 1981 ... majoring in American studies in the College of Arts and Letters.

Career vs. CCHA

2000-01 vs. CCHA

Harr's Career Statistics