Oh, what a difference a year makes.

Bottom dwellers just a season ago and expected to be again this year, the Union men’s hockey team—which will square off against Harvard tonight at 7 p.m. at the Bright Hockey Center—has risen to the top of the ECAC ranks, sweeping its first six league contests.

The run, orchestrated by second-year coach and former Crimson assistant Nate Leaman, can primarily be traced back to the Dutchmen’s additional depth. Though still a young team, Union (7-6-1, 6-0-0 ECAC) returned all eight of its top scorers from a season ago, and the playing time afforded rookie skaters then has led to more consistent performances across the board this time around.

“Last year, we really struggled scoring goals,” Leaman said. “We relied on one line to score goals. We’ve had two lines that have scored consistently, and our third and fourth lines have chipped in goals at key times for us.”

And while many haven’t notched a tally of their own, Leaman’s skaters—with just two exceptions—have recorded at least one point. But the top performers from a season ago have, thus far, anchored the Dutchmen offense once again.

Senior forward Jordan Webb, who led Union with 30 points in 2003-04, has already nearly eclipsed last season’s 13-goal total. His 12 goals in 14 games place him third-highest nationwide, while his eight power-play tallies are tied for the most in Division I.

Meanwhile, junior Scott Seney, the team’s leader in assists and points with 11 and 17, respectively, is well on his way to surpassing his sophomore season point total of 21.

“Scottie put in a great summer, and Jordan put in a great summer. And both those guys are on pace to score a lot more goals than last year,” Leaman said. “I think their confidence has improved, [and] their battling ability has improved because of their strength.”

Defensively, Union has shifted to a two-goaltender rotation in which Kris Mayotte, last year’s starter, and freshman Justin Mrazek alternate appearances. Mrazek in particular has thrived within the system, posting a 1.68 goals-against average, fifth-lowest in the country, and a 0.935 save percentage, eighth best.

While Mayotte’s numbers have not been as impressive—he allowed 14 goals in his first three starts this season—the Dutchmen are undefeated with him in goal since they began using both him and Mrazek.

“I was hoping to have this situation to be honest with you,” Leaman said. “Kris Mayotte is a spectacular goaltender. We just went to the well a little too much, and he got worn down, and he let in some softies. It wasn’t his fault...He needed a day off and he wasn’t able to have it.”

Leaman wouldn’t speculate as to who will play between the pipes tonight, though it would appear to be Mayotte’s turn—Mrazek started Union’s last outing, a 3-1 loss to Holy Cross.

Regardless of who starts in net, though, the Dutchmen—based on their poor performance so far this season against teams with talent comparable to Harvard’s—will be hard pressed to handle the Crimson (5-3-1, 3-3-1) .

While winning all six of its ECAC contests—five of which came against teams in sixth place or lower in the conference standings—Union has struggled mightily out of conference against more challenging opponents, posting a 1-6-1 record.

Those six losses—two to No. 4 Colorado College, a pair to Bowling Green, and one apiece to Mass.-Lowell and lowly Holy Cross—might be a better indicator of how the Dutchmen will fare when pitted against a more challenging program.

In its defeats, Union has, on average, allowed its opponents seven power plays, a trend which, should it continue, will play directly into Harvard’s hands.

The Crimson enters weekend action third in the nation with a man advantage, converting on 25.9 percent of its 5-on-4s—and 35.1 percent in its last six games.

So how will the Dutchmen attempt to short circuit the Harvard power play?

“By not taking penalties,” Leaman laughed. “We need to play a smart road game and stay out of the box.”

He should know. After all, Leaman coached all but one member of the Crimson’s first power-play unit, and has seen their talent firsthand, which should raise the stakes for both sides.

“We actually [left] Coach Leaman a voicemail this afternoon, Noah [Welch] and I, and gave him a hard time,” assistant captain Ryan Lannon said. “It’s going to be fun to see him on the other side.”

Kidding aside, Harvard—one week removed from a lackluster loss at St. Lawrence—won’t be downplaying Union’s talent, or its chances to beat the Crimson.

“[Lehman] just preaches work ethic and competition,” Lannon said. “So we expect them to come in and give us their best, and we’re ready to reciprocate that.”

As for Union, its confidence may be at an all-time high and its league record may dwarf Harvard’s, but Lehman’s squad won’t be taking tonight’s contest lightly either. A historically weak program which only made the jump from Division III to Division I in 1991, the Dutchmen will be discounted, according to Lehman, until they string together a series of noteworthy performances on a consistent basis.

“I think Union’s always going to be the underdog,” Lehman said. I’ll bet if you ask nine out of 10 people coming into [the game tonight], they’ll say Harvard’s going to blast us. We have to earn that respect.”

—Staff writer Timothy J. McGinn can be reached at mcginn@fas.harvard.edu.