Last year the team only dressed four defenders a game, which led to understandable fatigue on defense at times.

“It definitely makes a difference when you’re dressing six for a game and we can run six deep,” Hagerman said. “People can go twice as hard because they know they’re going to get a rest.”

The blueliners should make life easier for the Crimson at the goaltending position, where Harvard is hoping that numbers will help compensate for lack of experience.

The Crimson has three goaltenders at its disposal this season. Stone hopes they all can stay healthy, unlike past seasons.

Junior Jessica Ruddock is recovered from a stress fracture to her hip that limited her to nine games last season. Stone hopes she will emerge as the starter given her prior experience in the 2001 Frozen Four.

Despite its strength compared to previous years at all positions, the Crimson’s path to victory this season will not be an easy one.

Harvard will not be the only school with Olympians returning to take the ice, nor is it the only squad fielding its top recruiting class in years.

“The whole landscape of college hockey has changed in a few months by bringing those kids back and bringing in one of the best classes college hockey has seen,” Stone said.

And the Crimson’s schedule is anything but forgiving. Harvard’s first two games of the season come against No. 1 Minnesota-Duluth and No. 2 Minnesota, both on the road.

“Every year we play them at the beginning of the season,” Hagerman said. “Our coaches do a great job making sure we’re ready.”

Unfortunately for the Crimson, both the Bulldogs and Gophers will be well into their schedules by the time Harvard first drops the puck.

“We like to play them early,” Stone said. “It’s good to get everyone in there right away. We want to have the toughest schedule in the country.”

With only four teams making the NCAA tournament, this year’s performance may need to be every bit as good as it is hyped up to be if Harvard is to come home with a national title.