Harvard Coach Ronn Tomassoni said it the first week of the season--for the ECAC to be a strong conference, it eventually has to have a strong, competitive team from Union College.

Don't took now, Coach, but the Skating Dutchman are soaring. With a conference record of 8-9-3, Union has a shot a first-round playoff bye in the ECAC postseason tournament heading into the final weekend of the regular season.

There's another guy closely related to Harvard hockey who likes that thought. However, that's his job.

We're talking about Kevin Sneddon '92, the Crimson's captain two short seasons ago, who is now pacing behind Union Head Coach Bruce Delventhal's bench for a living.

"I'm a Union guy all the way now," Sneddon says. "It was a tough adjustment at first, to be honest--I kinda wanted to get out there and play, especially with all the youth on our team and all the mistakes they were making."

It's amazing to fathom that 11 of Union's top 18 skaters are freshman, although Sneddon is quick to point out that "they really aren't freshmen anymore."

Unfathomable as it may seem, the ECAC may have found a new power-house for years to come.

"The biggest thrill is watching the team grow," Sneddon says. "There are some great kids in that locker room, and I've loved watching them improve as a team over the course of the season."

This year's effort--12-9-4 overall, and only a game under. 500 in conference play one year after the Dutchmen finished 3-19-0 in the ECAC--wildly exceeds the expectations of Sneddon and his compatriots.

"Our number one goal from the moment we first set foot in practice was to make the playoffs," Sneddon says. "Right now, we're in that slot, and we're actually ahead of where we wanted to be at this point."

"You really can't ask for anything more than these guys have done--I can't say anyone here was expecting to be shooting for sixth place at this time of year before the season started."

And even considering Harvard's 3-3 tie with Union last Saturday night, many Crimson players would gladly concede that if they had to lose that point to anyone, Sneddy's not the worst guy to have given it to.

"I love the guy--he's a great guy," captain Sean McCann says. "As a freshman, he was my defense partner, and he was a great player. I'm really happy for him to have that position, and it seems like he's really comfort able there."

So hats off to Kevin Sneddon and all those who have toiled to make Schenectady, N.Y. a future college hockey hotbed. And may the Crimson get a more benign opening round draw next weekend in ECAC quarter-final playoff action than those flying Dutchmen.

The Title Chase: Well, actually, that's been sewn up since last Friday--Harvard has won its third straight ECAC regular season title. But after that, there are several interesting races to watch that involve head-to-head competition.