"Darren makes coming to the rink more enjoyable," said sophomore center Ryan Chaytors, who plays on the "Red Line" alongside Wercinski and junior Jeremiah Buckley. "His sense of humor always relieves a lot of pressure."

"Werski" definitely make his presence known to his teammates. On the ice, he is a tremendously versatile player especially dangerous during power-play and short-handed situations. Off the ice, he is pun-wielding showman who always has an appreciative audience.

"I take a lot of abuse in the locker room because the guys like to give me a hard time," Wercinski joked. "But that's probably because I give them equally as hard a time back. I'm not above ripping a guy about being in love or cutting on his hockey ability. But I like to do it in a fun way."

Head coach Roger Demment has also been subjected to Wercinski's humor, noting that it has actually been therapeutic during some of the tougher seasons in the past.

"In intense moments, `Werski' has been known to lighten the atmosphere with his famous series of one-liners," said Demment with a laugh and a concealing grin.

But what really got Demment smiling was talking about Wercinski's offensive abilities on the ice. Although Wercinski was recruited as a highly touted defenseman from the "Range" in Eveleth, Minn., he has made a very successful transition to forward during his years at Dartmouth.

"Darren not only led the team in power-play goals last season, but he became one of our go-to guys in man-down situations," Demment said. "This year, he is the veteran leader of perhaps our most complete line."

Whereas his numbers on paper ¯ three goals and two assists through nine games ¯ don't jump out at you, Wercinski's contributions are best revealed by the success of the "Red Line." The line has gotten the last laugh against opponents this season, as Chaytors has a team-high 12 points and Buckley has seven.

"The biggest reason for our positive impact is that we are all on the same page and are working together," said Wercinski, who claims to have bragging rights over his teammates since he hails from the home of the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame. "We communicate and always have a good idea where each of us is going."

After the team started off slow this season, Wercinski provided the spark that has turned around the 1996-97 campaign.

Trailing, 2-0, at then-No. 8 Colgate on Nov. 15, Wercinski scored twice ¯ including a short-handed goal ¯ to lead a 3-2, come-from-behind victory. The upset started a span during which Dartmouth won five of its next six games to build a 6-3 record.

"I think that game really set the tone for the season so far," Wercinski said. "We've come out with a lot of confidence ever since. And I feel that if you come out with a chip on your shoulders and some confidence, you can take anyone."

But in true `Werski' fashion, the senior said he was willing to pay any price to get the Big Green rolling.

"I had been talking to my friends at the Psychic Network, and I got in touch with Dionne Warwick," Wercinski recalled. "She gave me some spiritual counseling, and, for an additional $20, she said we'd go on a winning streak."

Thanks in part to both Wercinski's play and humor, his Big Green teammates are laughing ¯ laughing all the way to the bank.