This aggressiveness has shown results as left wing Armstrong has tallied six goals and five assists, right wing Follows has seven goals and six assists, and center Haney has one goal and six assists (going into this weekend's action).
"When we got separated we didn't play as well," Follows says. "When we're together we have that intangible quality, we think along the same wavelengths."
Armstrong's style of play has also garnered Cleary's respect. "We put him out in crucial situations because he can take the face-offs if they get tossed out," Cleary says. "Face-offs are determination and concentration, and he's mentally tough."
Armstrong has become a penalty killer for the Crimson, a thankless task that is perfectly suited to his dogged determination.
"He kills penalties," Cleary says. "And when you kill penalties that's a compliment."
Armstrong is mentally focused as well as tough on the ice. He has no aspirations to personal glory as his goals are more team oriented. "The greatest satisfaction would be winning a national championship, he says. "It wouldn't really matter who is a standout."
That is not to say that Armstrong does not appreciate greatness. He says of Scott Fusco, "He is amazing, he simply has the knack."
The Fuscos of the world, however, also appreciate the Armstrongs, who dig the puck out of the corner, penalty kill and stand ready to step in on the late face-offs.
As an Ithaca native, Armstrong is often asked why he did not attend Cornell, but he says he simply "...liked Harvard more." It is ironic that Cornell's hockey establishment told Armstrong that it wasn't sure if he could skate well enough to play for the lumbering, board-rattling Big Red, and Armstrong is now a solid performer for the fleet Crimson.
Having to adjust to Cleary's wide-open style was just another hurdle for Armstrong to overcome with his gritty attitude.
No one was surprised to see him step in and contribute to the Crimson's success in his first year.
As Cleary says, no matter what the odds, "You can never count an Armstrong out.