Their mutual support has left them as the dynamic players they are today. Not surprisingly their size dictates a different manner of play, but their contrasting styles make them a deadly combination on the opposite wings.

Kolarik rewrote Deerfield's offensive record books as a flashy forward who has explosive speed and great poise with the puck. Fried is a bulldog, a power forward who can drive hard to the net and pave a path for his teammates. Both players have a tremendous nose for the goal.

"Kolarik plays hard," Mazzoleni said. "You get him below the circles in the offensive zone and he has one thing on his mind, trying to score and he's strong and tough on the puck. We think Robbie can be a good player too."

Fried has not shown off as much of his talent in the preseason as Kolarik, making a rougher transition to college life. As such, Mazzoleni has done the opposite of Lindsay in camp--experimenting with the two on other lines. Kolarik has seen time on the top with last year's Ivy League Rookie of the Year, Dominic Moore.

Nothing has yet been decided, however, and the Deerfield duo could be reunited at anytime for instant chemistry.

"I know where Robbie is going to be on the ice," Kolarik says. "And he knows where I am all the time."

The team has recognized their status as best friends in easing their transition to Harvard. For the first time, the Crimson has introduced a Big Brother program, assigning a veteran to offer guidance and support to each rookie. Fried drew Dominc Moore, while Kolarik was given the captain, Steve Moore. If anyone understands how to carry on a preexisting close relationship on the Harvard men's hockey team, it's the Moore brothers.

"I haven't had to do that much," Dominic Moore says. "I've been there for all the little things that have come up, but Tyler and Rob are real nice kids and good hockey players. They are the type of guys anyone wants on their team."

Their effort has certainly been appreciated.

"The older guys have really made it a point to join you in the dining hall," Fried says. "They want to know how you are doing. Especially Dom and Steve, they've made the transition very easy."

The Pitch

But before there could be any transition both players had to commit to Harvard. Contrary to popular belief, the two did not come to fair Cambridge as a package deal.

Fried was sold on Harvard long before Mazzoleni came knocking on his door. In fact, before Mazzoleni had to dip into the Harvard hockey tradition, Fried was telling him tales of Lane McDonald '89, Scott Fusco '85 and Ted Donato '91. Fried grew up a fan.

"It was always a dream of mine to go to Harvard," Fried says. "Once the offer came around, I knew early on I wanted to go. I knew the program and the tradition."

Fried certainly had the academic credentials to attend this school, ranking in the top-10 percent of his class and taking math classes not listed in the Deerfield coursebook. His roommate had the grades, but Kolarik required some more convincing.

"From the beginning of the whole recruiting process, I was geared to going to a scholarship school," Kolarik says. "That was always something that caught my eye."