In goal, both junior Mike Bracco and senior Vern Guetens have goals-against averages over 3.9 (5.12 and 3.91 respectively).

The Land of Ice and Snow

But if (when?) Harvard gets past Dartmouth, the Crimson has to face a team with slightly better goaltending.

Vermont has Christian Soucy, and everyone knows the sophomore netminder from Gatineau, Que., can keep the black biscuit out of the proverbial oven.

"Actually, [Soucy] lives right near me in Canada, just a couple of houses down the street," sophomore Steve Martins said. "He's proved he can play."

Soucy garnered ECAC Player of the Week honors for his performance last weekend, as he posted 81 saves in two games, holding Princeton and Yale to 3 scores between them.

"Soucy's been playing well lately," Maguire said. "We're just going to jump all over him and get a lot of shots off.

"Coach [Tomassoni] has been stressing that to be a great team, we have to keep the intensity up," Maguire said.

Of course, against Catamounts and Soucy, the Crimson will need more than intensity. Harvard will need shots on target.

Last time the two teams met, the Crimson struggled with Soucy for two periods but then exploded in the third for four goals.

And it was freshman Tripp Tracy who came out with the shutout, as the Catamounts had no answer for him or the Crimson defense.

That was at home, however. On the road, Harvard has to worry about Gutterson Field House and the fans that fill it to the brim for every game.

"Vermont definitely has one of the toughest buildings to play in," Martins said. "The place is crazy."