This year, there’s no controversy. Harvard’s starting goaltender job officially belongs to Dov Grumet-Morris.

The sophomore entered last season as the younger half of a two-man platoon in net alongside junior Will Crothers. It took nearly the entire regular season—until a 4-0 shutout of Union on Feb. 23—for Grumet-Morris to finally emerge as the full-time goalie. His subsequent stellar performance in the playoffs cemented his hold on the job.

Now, it’s his to lose.

“Dov has won the right to be our starting goaltender,” said Harvard coach Mark Mazzoleni. “We were searching for that last year, especially when we were in that challenging period in February. He emerged and he really stepped forward in a very positive manner and shouldered the pressure and really was one of the key reasons why our season turned.”

Grumet-Morris helped lead a relatively inexperienced Harvard team to the NCAA tournament by minding the net for an astounding four overtime games in a row.

In the ECAC title game, a 4-3 win against favored Cornell, he set the Harvard record for goaltender minutes played in a game (96:11). In the process, Grumet-Morris justified his teammates faith in him.

“Dov is one of those guys who plays his best in the big games,” captain Dominic Moore said. “In the playoffs, there’s nothing you need more than a great goalie because a good goalie can single-handedly win games. That’s exactly what Dov did last year in the playoffs. I’ve never seen performances like Dov’s.”

The strong playoff run helped Grumet-Morris and his teammates build up their confidence for the coming season.

“Because of the success that our team experienced this past postseason, we know that we are capable of beating any team in our league,” Grumet-Morris said. “That will go a long ways towards helping us during the grueling regular season.”

Following his remarkable postseason performance, Grumet-Morris was drafted by the Philadelphia Flyers in the fifth round of the 2002 NHL entry draft as the 161st pick overall. He plans to sign with the Flyers at the end of his college career.

“Being drafted this past summer was definitely a very positive and encouraging event for me,” Grumet-Morris said. “It’s something special for all hockey players because it connects them, in a small way, to something that they have looked up to their entire lives—the NHL.”

For those who know him well, Grumet-Morris’ emergence has not come as a surprise at all.

“We absolutely believe Dov has the capability of playing in the NHL,” said Chico Adrahtas, head coach of the Danville (Ill.) Wings, Grumet-Morris’ former junior-league team. “You’re familiar with the old saying, ‘Many are called, few are chosen.’ Well, Dov will be chosen.”

The Wings have played a large part in Grumet-Morris’ development. While playing for Danville in the 2000-2001 season, Grumet-Morris set team records for goals-against average and save percentage and was voted the team’s Rookie of the Year.

He also acquired a good deal of the team’s philosophy, which emphasizes character both on and off the ice.