Compounding the void left by Ruggiero's absence this season will be Botterill and Shewchuk's departure in early November to play for Canada in the Four Nations Cup. Harvard will be shorthanded for its first four games of the season, including a home matchup against defending national champion Minnesota.

"It will certainly be a very different look this season," Stone said. "But we'll work hard, step up, and play a lot of hockey. It'll be exciting."

The Crimson returns four defensemen to this year's squad: senior veterans Jaime Notman and Julie Rando, plus promising sophomores Jaime Hagerman and Pam Van Reesema. Both sophomores made significant contributions to the team as freshmen. Van Ressema often started alongside Ruggiero, and Hagerman was an ECAC All-Rookie selection.

Ruggiero has no doubt in their ability to come through in her absence.

"Definitely, they'll step up," Ruggiero said. "Notman and Rando are veterans who have been around for a while. Pam's got so much potential. I think this will be a really big year for Hagerman, because now she has a chance to really lead the defense. She can do it. She's been to the USA Hockey camps. I know she worked really hard this summer and she has a lot to prove this year."

On November 18th, the same day as the renewal of the Harvard-Yale football rivalry, Harvard will head off to Hanover, N.H. to play Dartmouth. It will be the Crimson's first chance at revenge against the team that ruined its national title hopes last season. Ruggiero will definitely be listening to the radio broadcast.

"Dartmouth - I wanted to come back more than anything else just to play Dartmouth," Ruggiero said. "They're such a good team. We owe them so much. But I know our team can do it this year. I believe in them. They can win if the focus is on who is there and what they can do with them."