Pawloski has not found the transition to Harvard difficult, despite the fact that his family and most of his friends remain in the Midwest.

"I enjoy being here," Pawloski says. "I've made a lot of good friends. Everybody's really close on the hockey team."

Harvard has been fortunate in the way that the seven freshmen on this year's club have been able to step in at key roles and in key situations.

Pawloski credits the veterans on the team with making the transition to college life and a big-time college hockey schedule easier for all the freshman.

"The upperclassmen are really a bunch of good guys. They've helped us out around campus, showing us where everything was, even giving us advice on classes and studying."

Though Harvard's fortunes may have fluctuated over the latter half of the season, Pawloski's play has been steady throughout.

As the season went on, Cleary has increased the freshman's playing time and is not afraid to play him in shorthanded situations.

"He's been a steady performer all year. He's played exceptional," says Cleary. "He's not flashy, but he's consistent day in and day out."

Many of Pawloski's teammates share their coach's view. As backup goaltender to Grant Blair, freshman John Devin has a vested interest in the Crimson's defensive play.

"He's so steady that you hardly notice him unless he makes a mistake, which he rarely does," Devin says.

"He really grows on you," Cleary adds.

"Jerry's a quiet leader on and off the ice for us," adds Devin.

Pawloski has taken more initiative in carrying the puck up ice, often leading sorties into the opponents' zones. His increased offense has in no way detracted from his physical style of play however.

"Jerry usually sets the tempo of every game by going out and rocking some kid early," Devin says. "It gets him in the game, and it gets the whole team in the game."

There's nothing neutral about that