Moore and Nowak were big parts of Harvard’s offense (best in the ECAC last year), but don’t look for much of a scoring drop this season.

“We’ve had some guys that would have gotten the opportunity to play at other programs,” Mazzoleni said.

One of them is Tom Cavanagh (see feature, page 10), who is coming off a 14-goal, 27-point season. With more ice time, and an opportunity to play on the team’s first power play unit, Cavanagh has the potential to hit 40 or even 50 points.

“Those two guys scored a lot of goals last year,” Cavanagh said. “And we need people to fill those roles. I think that I can be one of those guys.”

Another key returnee is senior assistant captain Tyler Kolarik, who last year tied defenseman Noah Welch for fourth on the team’s scoring list with 28 points and led the team with four game-winning goals.

Sophomore Charlie Johnson, who shared last season’s Percy Award as team rookie of the year with Peter Hafner, should also improve on his 20-point output.

Fans can also expect more of senior forward Kenny Turano, who had 13 points as a freshman, two as a sophomore and 11 last year—including nine in the season’s last two months after returning from a wrist injury.

“He took his game back to where it was his first year,” Mazzoleni said. “He has probably the greatest ability to score goals around the net, with his quick release.”

The Defensemen

With all six regulars returning—along with heralded rookie Reese—Harvard’s defensive corps should be one of its deepest in years.

“Our D-corps is second to none in this country,” Smith said. “We have six guys who are extremely experienced players. We’re going to be a defense that punishes people who try and come into our zone but also makes good breakout passes.”The group is anchored by junior Noah Welch, a second-team All-American last year, when he scored six goals and assisted on 22 others for the third-highest point total in the conference among defensemen. “Welchie’s a tremendous player,” Smith said. “I think he can play at a higher level than last year. I saw him this summer, and he’s been working really hard...I think he’s going to surpass last season.” Smith is also expecting a big year from Hafner, a sophomore who was often paired with Welch last season.

“I think Pete is one of the best defensemen in the league, and I told him that in the tournament last year,” Smith said. “He plays the fundamentals of the game really well. He picks up things very quickly from the coaches, and they’re going to be using him to stop the other teams’ top lines this year.”

The Goaltenders

Junior Dov Grumet-Morris made his mark nationally last season, when he was ranked as high as second in the country in save percentage before finishing the year in fifth. His .925 mark was second-best in school history to Godfrey Wood ‘63.

This year, Mazzoleni expects Grumet-Morris to be pushed by sophomore John Daigneau, who was 4-1-0 with a 1.45 goals-against average in five games.

Grumet-Morris will draw the start in the season-opener versus Brown, but Daigneau will start one of the games on the team’s first road trip.

“John Daigneau has proven he deserves the opportunity to show what he can do,” Mazzoleni said.