POTSDAM, N.Y.—At the south end of Cheel Arena is a large green banner with the simple phrase “It’s Hunting Season” in gold lettering. Below it are posted the logos of Clarkson’s 15 home opponents for the 2002-03 season.

In case an opposing player missed the not-so-subtle message, there was a large red bull’s eye over the picture of John Harvard on Saturday night to make it clear.

The Crimson (4-1-0) may not literally have a bull’s eye on its chest again this season, but figuratively speaking, it is going to be there every week, especially on the road.

As the defending ECAC tournament champions and a consensus pick to finish in the top two again this season, there are plenty of teams gunning to knock off the Crimson. Dealing with being the “team to beat” at home is not easy, but facing hostile crowds on the road and dealing with 10-hour bus rides through blizzards hardly helps the situation.

“I don’t care what sport it is, there is a big difference playing on the road versus at home,” said Harvard coach Mark Mazzoleni.

That is why this weekend’s sweep of Clarkson and St. Lawrence, by scores of 2-1 and 6-1 respectively, was such an important accomplishment for the Crimson.

The last time Harvard took four points from the Golden Knights and Saints was at home in Bright during the 1993-94 season, and the Crimson has not been able to do it on the road in the “North Country” since 1992-93.

It is also Harvard’s second consecutive win over Clarkson, who fell to the Crimson 3-2 in overtime in the ECAC semifinals last March.

“When you consider it’s been 10 years—yes, it is a big accomplishment,” Mazzoleni said. “It is a very difficult trip and both these teams have played extremely well at home over the years.”

The symbolic importance of the victory was not lost on Crimson sophomore goaltender Dov Grumet-Morris either. He was quick after the game to point out that Harvard advanced to the NCAA both those years.

The similarities do not stop there. Both those squads started the season with four wins in their first five games, exactly like this year.

Curious how those seasons ended? Harvard posted a 22-6-3 mark in 1992-93 and finished 24-5-4 a year later.

If you missed the message, let me paint you a picture. Or, more appropriately, follow the bull’s eye.

The Crimson is back as an ECAC powerhouse, and coaches around the league know it when they speak about Harvard.

“The ECAC needs Harvard and it needs teams like Vermont to get back up there,” Mazzoleni said. “The league hasn’t had the number of top teams that it had in the past. St. Lawrence, Clarkson and Cornell have pretty much done their yeoman’s share of staying at the top, but we need the Harvards of the world to be there.”