The Harvard men’s hockey team reaffirmed itself as the ECAC’s leader in NHL-quality talent last weekend when four Crimson players were selected in the league’s 2001 entry draft.

With the selection of rising sophomores Kenny Smith and Dennis Packard and incoming freshmen Noah Welch and Tom Cavanagh, the Crimson produced twice as many NHL prospects as any other single team in the ECAC.

Harvard also produced an ECAC-best four NHL draft selections in 2000. With juniors Dominic Moore and Brett Nowak and sophomores Rob Fried and Tyler Kolarik remaining on the team, the Crimson now boasts eight NHL draft picks on its 2001-02 roster.

Student-athletes, provided that they are 19 years of age, do not lose their NCAA eligibility upon their selection. Although top college players often leave school early to sign pro contracts, the majority of recent Harvard draftees have chosen to stay the full four years. Last year’s Harvard captains, Chris Bala ’00 and Steve Moore ’00, were both second-round NHL selections.

Welch, a second round selection by Pittsburgh and the 54th pick overall, was the first of the four draftees to hear his name called.

Welch, a six foot four, 212 pound defenseman, played prep school hockey at St. Sebastian’s, where he led his team to a New England Prep Championship and earned his league’s MVP honors for his senior season. He hails from Brighton, just a short walk south from Harvard’s Bright Center.

“[Going to Harvard] has always been one of his goals growing up,” said Penguins scout Joe Malone to the team’s official news outlet. “He’s a good student and he wants to go the four years.”

Welch was the 2001 winner of the Boston Bruins’ John Carlton Trophy, given to the most outstanding student-athlete in Mass. high school hockey. Past winners of the award include Ted Donato ’91, who was the NCAA tournament MVP for Harvard’s 1989 national championship team, and 1995 World Series MVP Tom Glavine, who was a Kings draft pick years before he established himself as a major league pitcher.