"He's also a talented skater and shooter and he's a really intelligent player," Fusco says. "He's playing with Allen Bourbeau and they both see the ice very well. That's the most important thing to be a productive offensive player."
The Crimson last year relied almost entirely on the scoring of its devastating first line, which scored 86 of the squad's 147 goals. None of the other three units ever produced with any consistency, sc Cleary is looking to Krayer--who will play with Bourbeau, a natural goal-scorer--to help spark a second scoring line.
"We're hoping that they're gonna do something for us offensively," Cleary says.
The Krayer-Bourbeau combination will also be the heart of Harvard's second power play unit.
Krayer names passing and skating as his fortes. What he needs to work on, though, is his shooting and upper-body strength.
"I was the biggest guy at St. Paul's" the 6-ft., 170-lb. left wing says, "but here, defensemen love to wail on little freshmen."
Krayer doesn't think adjusting to a new caliber of play will be easy, but Matthews feels that the St. Paul's legend has the skills and the heart to be an impact player right away. His intelligence, vision, unselfishness and experience in a big rink should help him adapt to playing on a top college team.
"For a freshman to play second line on a team picked to win the nationals says something about his ability," Matthews added.
A third freshman who will see a lot of action is Josh Caplan, a teammate of Biotti's at Belmont Hill and the captain of the team there.
Caplan played defense with Biotti in high school but might be converted into a forward for the Crimson.
While Biotti and Krayer were choosing whether to turn professional, Caplan was deciding between Dartmouth and Harvard.
"The coach at Dartmouth said, 'We could build the team around you,'" Caplan says, "but I knew I'd always be asking myself, 'What if?' if I went there."
Caplan pointed to the Beanpot Tournament, the excellent coaching and Harvard's great hockey tradition as crucial factors in the choice of Crimson over Green. The Wellesley native also preferred a school close to home.
His adjustment to Harvard shouldn't be too difficult. Like Biotti, Caplan will benefit from the emphasis on the skating game at Belmont Hill under Martin.
"He has good lateral quickness," Martin says. "He's a very knowledgeable player who sees the rink very well and makes good passes."
"He's another guy with a lot of ability," Fusco says of the 5-ft., 10-in., 175-lb. swingman. "He needs some experience. This year and definitely in the future. He doesn't play with the same confidence as Chris Biotti, yet."
Several other freshmen, notably Craig Taucher--who is now skating on Harvard's fifth line--may contribute before the year is over. But for now, the emphasis is on the three local kids.
Caplan regards Fusco and the other seniors as integral to the progress of the younger players. "Playing with better people challenges us," Caplan explains, "and helps us get better. All the seniors are helpful."
For the upperclassmen, the three freshmen are just as important. The trio could add some depth and spark to an already talent-rich squad, giving the Crimson the ingredients it needs for a trip to Providence and the Final Four.