There were countless heroes on Harvard's 1999 Women's Hockey National Championship team, but in the jumble of amazing stories from last season, Crystal Springer's shines like a diamond in the rough.

On a team that seemed to get all the lucky bounces last year, Springer seemed to get all the bad breaks.

Nevertheless, the senior goaltender managed to overcome the hard knocks thrown her way and lead Harvard into its playoff run.

On the way, Springer compiled numbers in goal that would make a sharp-shooter shake, registering a 1.32 goals-against average and a blistering hot .932 save percentage with a record of 15-1.

Springer and the rest of the Crimson were off to their best start ever. At the midpoint of the season, Harvard was 14-1 and Springer was having a career season between the pipes, arguably anchoring the greatest Crimson team to take the ice.

Then without warning, Springer's fairytale season literally shattered in front of her own eyes with one devastating blow.

A seemingly harmless shot in practice found it's way through her layers of padding and broke Springer's collar bone.

"It was the last drill of the last practice before the exam break," Springer said. "I just couldn't imagine it happening like that at all."