Last year's squad surprised everyone, capturing the Ivy title and finishing fourth in the ECAC. There's every reason to believe Yale could do as well this year.

Yale returns 15 of 21 lettermen from last year, including six of the top ten scorers, both goalies and all but one defenders.

"This is a Yale team with great senior leadership at all the positions," Taylor says. "They have seen adversity and success, and want to make an impact on their final season."

Leading the way for the high powered offense will be senior Mark Kaufmann. Kaufmann was a first team All-ECAC selection last year, and should be a viable candidate for All-America honors this year.

"We will have three lines that can skate with anyone in the league," Taylor says.

The defense is solid as well. Jack Duffy, a second team all ECAC selection last year, will anchor the experienced unit.

All the pieces, then, seem to be there: great scoring, experienced defense and unparalled coaching.

Yale has been picked to finish fourth in the ECAC, but with a little luck and a healthy squad the Bulldogs could cause some major headaches for the league's favorites.

4. RPI

Though undefeated so far this season with a record of 1-0-2, Rensellaer faces the challenge of playing consistently with a very young squad.

With only one senior on the team suiting up this year, the Engineers will have to battle inexperience and make the most of their strengths: speed, quickness and goaltending ability.

"Until we mature...we're going to be up and down," says Coach Buddy Powers. "Some nights we'll play well and others we're going to struggle."

But some of the newcomers have already shown their potential. Last year, the team finished 10th in the ECAC standings, but by the end of the season it knocked off Clarkson, Brown and, in the ECAC quarterfinals, top-ranked Harvard.

The young ones have shown their skill this season as well. Freshman Tim Regan was named ECAC Rookie of the Week after collecting an assist and the game-winning goal in the season opener against Providence.

Other freshmen to watch for are Patrick Rochon on defense and Bryan Richardson up front.