"I think we're doing all right--not too bad so far," is how Cleary assesses his team's performance at this juncture.

There are several reasons for the team's early-season success.

The always-stellar Harvard defense, led by second-team All-America Mark Benning and partner Randy Taylor, has shut down opponents' scoring drives and made life considerably easier for the Crimson netminders. "We've got the best defense in the country," marvelled McEvoy.

The Crimson power play has been especially effective so far this year, converting a remarkable 40 percent of its opportunities, while Harvard's man-down unit has also played well.

The Crimson sports the ECAC's deadliest scoring trio in MacDonald, Tim Barakett and Bourbeau. MacDonald leads the conference's scoring race, while Barakett is tied for second place. Bourbeau, after a slow start, is not far behind in fifth place.

Finally, Cleary has successfully integrated his freshmen skaters into the line-up. Right-wing C.J. Young starts on the first line with MacDonald and Bourbeau, while Tod Hartje has picked up six points as the center of Captain Peter Chiarelli's third line.

The outlook is bright for the Crimson. With the heart of its regular-season schedule coming up in the next two months, Harvard has the opportunity to establish itself as a truly great collegiate hockey team.

But before visions of national championships can dance in Crimson heads, Cleary sounds a precautionary warning to his team: "Never be smug."