It's rare for a freshman to get serious playing time on a team that started out the season ranked ninth in the nation and it's even less likely that a freshman, especially one with the nickname of Buttercup, to lead such a team in goals, assists and total points tallied. But then again, players like freshman phenom Beau Kretzman are rare.

There have been more than a few occasions this season when the men's hockey team, having lost seven top-notch players to graduation, seemed unable to find its niche. It was during these moments that finesse player Kretzman became more than just a center for the Jeffs. He became a leader.

"It took me a few games to get used to the faster pace of college-level play, but after that I consistently felt myself gain confidence in each game I played with the team," said Kretzman. "I owe a lot of that confidence to the coaches and my captains." Now that he has found his footing on the ice, Kretzman has gone on to score 23 goals and record 19 assists this season.

Kretzman had a lot to be confident about before he even arrived at Amherst. As a member of the Edina (Minn.) High School varsity team, Kretzman was a two-year captain, a three-time All-Conference selection and a member of the statewide select-16 and select-17 teams. When it came time to look at colleges, this offensive threat had his pick among playing at Colgate University, Yale University and Amherst.

"Amherst seemed to be a great fit academically and athletically, which was important to me," Kretzman said. "I had a lot of fun when I came here to visit and the knowledge that I would be able to get minutes on the ice as a freshman also influenced my decision."

From the start, Kretzman has converted those minutes into goals, assists and points. In the last two games alone, he has scored four goals and tallied three assists. His outstanding play earned Kretzman NESCAC Player of the Week honors.

Senior co-captain Darren Rheume '02 hasn't taken lightly what he's witnessed this season. "Beau has been outstanding this season," said Reaume. Not only has he been the best freshman in the league, but he has also probably been the best player, period! As a freshman, he's been our go-to player." Rheume said that he believes Kretzman's skill level will increase in the following three years. "He's by far the best pure offensive player I've seen in this league since I've been here," Reaume added. "He has the potential to be the best player to ever come through Amherst."

The respect for teammates and coaches alike seems to be mutual for Kretzman. "Coach [Jack Arena] is great because he's pretty laid back and gives me free reign to do what I want on the ice," said Kretzman.

Besides getting along well with the coaching staff, Kretzman also cited a strong connection with co-captain Greg Carr '02. "We are both finesse players who work well together. He sees the ice well and we somehow always seem to be on the same page," said Kretzman

With three more seasons ahead of him, Kretzman should continue to be a guiding force for the up-and-coming Jeffs. Next year will be a time for Kretzman to not only continue his flurry of scoring, but also to fill in the gap left by graduating seniors Carr and Bob Miele on the power play.

However, before looking ahead to 2003, Kretzman is focused on the final weekend of regular season play for this year's Jeffs. Wins against Bowdoin and Colby Colleges will hopefully catapult the team into the postseason, where Amherst should look to make up for a somewhat disappointing regular season. "The playoffs are a whole new season," said Kretzman.