Anyone who knows anything about hockey can tell you that you don't win many games without a good goaltender.

That being the case, the position of goaltender will no doubt be an integral part of the Harvard men's hockey team's formula for success in the upcoming season.

It's come down to two likely candidates--returning sophomore Peter Zakowich and freshman J.R. Prestifilippo.

So who's the go-to guy this year for the Crimson?

"I don't know quite frankly who's starting," Harvard coach Ronn Tomassoni said.

The position of goaltender remains a big question mark for Harvard as it prepares to open the season against Brown tonight.

The graduation of veteran goalie Tripp Tracy is largely responsible for the open parentheses in net. Tracy logged almost all the ice time for Harvard at that position over the last two years, departing the Crimson without leaving behind an experienced successor to his regime.

But uncertainty is not necessarily a bad thing in sports.

"I think the general public looks at question marks and speculates that they are a weakness and I don't necessarily look at it that way," Tomassoni said. "It can be a strength too."

Both Zakowich and Prestifilippo are talented goalkeepers, a fact that should make the season interesting, especially in the early going.

As Tracy's backup last year, Zakowich played in six games, finishing the year with a respectable 3-2 record and a 3.87 GAA.

The rookie Prestifilippo was more than accomplished at the Hotchkiss School and was drafted in the seventh in the seventh round in the June NHL draft by the New York Islanders.

So it looks like Tomassoni has a healthy goalie controversy on his hands.

"My philosophy has always been that if there's one guy that is the best, he will play." Tomassoni said. "If we have two very good guys, they'll both play.

But with practices starting less than three weeks ago, neither Zakowich nor Prestifilippo has had the time to emerge as the better goaltender.