With All-American Noah Welch out of the lineup Friday night at Vermont because of a coach’s decision, Reese even saw time on the team’s first power-play unit.

“I was a little nervous at first, but that game was the best I’ve had here, just because I was getting more ice time,” said Reese, who has yet to register his first collegiate point. “And the more you play, the better you feel.”

The crafty, smooth-skating Reese was paired in both games with junior Ryan Lannon, who is regarded as one of the league’s top stay-at-home defensemen. For the weekend, they were a combined plus-5.

“I absolutely love playing with him,” Reese said. “From the very beginning, we clicked. He compliments my style really well. He’s unbelievable defensively and his offensive game has stepped up.

“He communicates well on the ice, so it’s good for a guy like me, who has little experience, to work with someone like that.”

Vermont coach Kevin Sneddon ’92, a former Harvard defenseman who enjoyed a national championship during his standout freshman season, called him a “gifted player.”

“He’s going to be a very, very good college hockey player,” Sneddon said. “He’s one of those guys that I know I’m going to be looking at saying, ‘When is this guy going to graduate?’ It’s going to seem like he’s played in this league for eight years before he’s done. He’s like [Harvard senior Tyler] Kolarik, because they’re both impact freshmen.

“There are guys you’re always worrying about and hoping they’ll graduate soon. [Reese] is one of those guys.”

The next several weeks will be a key evaluation period in terms of Reese’s chances at making the 2004 US National Junior Team, which will compete at the International Ice Hockey Federation World Junior Championships in Finland.

Reese attended evaluation camp for the team in August but was not one of the 16 players named to the team on Oct. 27. Six slots remain—one of which will likely go to a defenseman—and Harvard has five games before the final roster is set Dec. 2.

Turano surgery scheduled

Senior Kenny Turano, who broke his ankle in two places last Friday night, will undergo surgery today and will likely miss three months for rehabilitation.

But captain Kenny Smith said Turano is already talking about staying involved by helping coaches break down film.

“He’s in good spirits, and he’ll be down to the rink as soon as he can,” said Smith, one of Turano’s blockmates. “He’s awesome. We’re really pushing for him. Just having him around here will help him, and will help us, too.

“The thing you know about Kenny Turano is that, if there’s anything he can possibly do to help the team, he’s going to do it.”