Dave Debol was drafted by the World Hockey Association's New England Whalers but was traded twice before he made his professional debut. Debol spent three years with the University of Michigan and had two stops with the U.S. National Team for the World Championships before joining the WHA.
With Michigan Debol was a key player and multi-time All-Star as well as earning berths on the All-American Team and the NCAA Championship All-Tournament Team.
Debol suited up for nine games with the Cincinnati Stingers to finish up the 1977-78 campaign then spent all of the next year there. When the World Hockey Association merged with the National Hockey League in 1979 Debol was selected by one of the new franchise, the Hartford Whalers, in the Dispersal Draft.
Debol spent 48 games with the Whalers during their inaugural NHL season and the center scored 12 goals while assisting on 14 others. The rest of that season was split between two minor pro clubs. The following year he was back in Hartford for 44 games and produced the same amount of points. This proved to be his final stint in the big leagues.
That spring he made his third appearance at the World Championships then moved on to the Central Hockey League to finish his career in 1981. Debol retired from the game following the 1982-83 campaign.
With his playing days behind him, Debol stayed with the game as a coach working at the high school level. He also owns and operates Debol & Donnelly Skill Development, a hockey school that he operates out of Michigan.
In 1996 Dave Debol was inducted into the Michigan Athletic Hall of Honor for his outstanding efforts on the ice during his three- season stay, highlighted by his 99 points in just 45 games in 1976-77.
