Girard posted a 26-6-3 record with a 1.55 goals-against average with his high school team. As a player for the College Antoine-Girouard Gaulois, he helped his squad have the league’s lowest goals-against average and was named the most valuable goaltender in the Quebec midget AAA, a first-team all-league selection, and his team’s most valuable player. He also attended Canada’s World Junior Challenge Tryout Camp as a member of Team East and was drafted by the Saint John Sea Dogs of the Quebec Junior Hockey League.

“Sometimes with goaltenders, there’s a difference in the level of shots they face in high school, [and] there is an adjustment period, but [Girard] seems to be making it very quickly,” Donato says.

Riley appears to be a similarly promising addition to the Harvard team, posting a 2.14 goals-against average and .921 save percentage for Deerfield Academy while also playing for Team Illinois in the Midwest Elite Hockey League.

All five Crimson rookies seem to be adjusting well to the level of college play and to the dynamics of the Harvard squad.

“Everybody looks good, everybody’s fitting in great, everybody’s getting along,” co-captain Michael Del Mauro says.

“There is really good chemistry on the team,” Ford adds. “[The team] welcomed the freshmen really well, and it’s been a great environment.”

—Staff writer Stephanie E. Herwatt can be reached at sherwatt@college.harvard.edu.