BOSTON -- Little big man. Good things come in small packages. Pound-for-pound, no one's better.

Throw all the cliche ingredients in the stew because those phrases were created for players like 5-foot-7 Brian Gionta, the Boston College senior who led the nation in goals with 33. He's undersized, but his grit, talent and intensity place him above just about every other college hockey player. In fact, along with Michigan State goalie Ryan Miller, Gionta is a favorite for the Hobey Baker Award as college hockey's best player, along with North Dakota's Jeff Panzer, the nation's leader in assists (50) and points (74).

	Gionta hopes the next trophy he hoists is for the NCAA hockey title.

Gionta has accomplished absolutely everything in college hockey, except two things: win a national title and the Hober Baker. He's won Hockey East championships, a Beanpot, Hockey East Player of the Year -- you name it.

However, Gionta doesn't hesitate regarding which unattained goal he wants more.

"I don't go for any personal goals," said Gionta when asked about the possibility of winning the Hobey. "I want to win the national championship and go out that way. I'd rather be known for that than a Hobey Baker winner."

Of course, lesson No. 1 with the media is to stick by the book and always talk team first. But Gionta isn't giving "Bull Durham" rhetoric -- "Just tryin' to help the team , good Lord willin'". Gionta means it, however, and beyond a natural humility, he feels so strongly team oriented because in three previous seasons, Boston College came close to winning it all but lost twice in the finals, once in Boston to Michigan (1998).

Unfortunately, individual recognition is part of success and plenty of people believe Gionta deserves the prestigious award.

	Gionta's career
	Year	Games	Points
	'97-98	40	30-32-62
	'98-99	39	27-33-60
	'99-00	42	33-23-56
	'00-01	40	33-20-53

"He's made a great case for himself. He's a remarkable player who has had a four-year career. He's been a leader, the type of player Mike Mottau was last year," said BC coach Jerry York, who compared Gionta to Mottau, the former BC defenseman and 2000 Hobey Baker winner. "I think he has a good shot at it."

Other coaches who have seen both Miller and Gionta tend to agree with York's obvious -- and justified -- subjective opinion.

"Either one is obviously a great choice, but because Gionta's a senior who has done it over four years. That should make the difference." said Notre Dame coach Dave Poulin, whose team faced both Miller and Gionta this season. Poulin thinks both are deserving, but that Gionta should get the award.

What does "doing it over four years" actually mean?

How about career totals of 123 goals and 231 points. Interestingly, Gionta scored fewer points in each of his successive seasons at Boston College. But each season, he's become a better all-around player and leader for the No. 1 seeded Eagles. Gionta is a great skater and offsets his diminutive size with a feistiness that draws comparisons to Theo Fleury of the New York Rangers.

On the flip side, Miller's accomplishments aren't too shabby, either. The Spartans sophomore led the nation in with 28 wins, a 1.36 GAA and nine shutouts. Miller set an NCAA career record with 17 shutouts.

	Hobey finalists
	Player	Team	Pos.
	Erik Anderson	St. Lawrence	F
	Ty Conklin	U.N.H	G
	Jeff Hamilton	Yale	F
	Dany Heatley	Wisconsin	F
	Andy Hilbert	Michigan	F
	Kent Huskins	Clarkson	D
	Jordan Leopold	Minnesota	D
	Brian Gionta	BC	F
	Jeff Panzer	N. Dakota	F
	Ryan Miller	Mich. St.	G

"We saw him early in the year, and he was obviously the difference in the series," said Poulin of Notre Dame's early-season losses to Miller and No. 1 ranked Michigan State. "(But) He plays on a team with a very defensive style."

"He's been so consistent and so good for so long, I've never seen anyone in college as good as him," said teammate and fellow BC senior Scott Clemmensen. "Ryan Miller has done unbelievable things at Michigan State, no doubt about it. I just think that the career Gionta has put together, he definitely deserves to win it. I see him day in and day out, and I'm always shaking my head."

It's believed that Gionta might be negatively affected by Mottau winning the award last year. Mottau, now playing in the NHL with the Rangers, thinks it would be unfortunate if that was the case.

"If he doesn't get it, it's too bad," Mottau said. "I've heard some things like because I won it last year, that could hurt his chances. He's been deserving of it the last two years, and hopefully he gets a fair shot."

Brian A. Shactman is a staff writer for ESPN.com.