But the loss of these stars doesn't seem to have made much of an impact yet.

The Saints' are 3-0 so far and slightly ahead of the pace of last year's team in goal scoring and defense.

Coach Joe March says he is "cautiously optimistic" about the team's prospects this season, saying the team's performance will rely on 3rd-4rd line players from last year stepping up and making use of the competitiveness and experience they gained in last year's playoffs.

The Saints' scoring and goaltending is strong but the team is still young defensively, with three freshmen and returnees without much experience.

Returning players to watch on the team are: goalie Paul Spagnoletti, with a 20-8-0 record and .899 save percentage; Captain Greg Carvel, right wing Spenser Meany, and Assistant Captain Lee Albert.

7. VERMONT

Vermont begins this season with only one mission: defense.

For a team with as much as firepower as broken cap-gun, the Catamounts lone salvation is, as Coach Roger Gilles says, "strong defense and goaltending."

In goal, Vermont (16-12-3 last year) returns sophomore Christian Soucy, an All-America honoree and the 1991-2 ECAC Rookie of the Year. Last year, Soucy recorded a 2.83 gaa. and .910 save percentage (second in the nation).

So far this season, Soucy has proved his worth, helping Vermont to a 2-2 tie against Boston College.

The offensive hopes--dim though they are--rest on wing Nicolas Perreault (16-17-33) and center Dominique Ducharme (13-19-32).This team could shock a few teams this year. It already pulled off a 4-3 upset of Providence, in what Coach Michael Gilligan calls, the team's "best effort so far."

8. PRINCETON

The Princeton Tigers, must overcome two of sports world's greatest obstacles: youth and injury.

After one of the most encouraging seasons in Princeton's recent history (a 12-14-1 record along with the team's first ever ECAC post season victory), the team takes the ice with a host of freshmen and sophomores who are expected to pick up the slack left by last year's six graduating seniors.

This year's squad is ranked 11th in the preseason polls.