Behind the WHRB Mike

An English concentrator on his way into advertising. A sociology concentrator aiming for a career in communications.

OK, so they're not exactly TV-38's Fred Cusick and Derrick Sanderson, but they are Harvard Hockey's own broadcasting duo.

For the past two years, seniors lan Stern and Dave Mainen have been the voices behind Crimson hockey, bringing every win, and loss, to the Harvard faithful.

"There's nothing like the dead silence in the gym after a win on the road," Stern says. "But driving home after a loss is almost worse than the loss itself."

"There's nothing like calling an overtime win," Mainen adds. "And calling goals--what a rush."

Yet radio does have its drawback. Stern and Mainen are forced to make sacrifices many Harvard fans would be unwilling and unable to make, such as not being able to root for the team.

"The things we miss most when we do radio is that you can't be a fan," Mainen says.

"You can't cheer, you can't root, and you can't curse--being from New York, that's a big part of my rooting style." Stern adds. "That's why we make so much noise when we do score a goal."

With a 43-10-6 mark since they've been on the air, they've certainly had many opportunities to do that during their careers. But two years of radio have given the broadcasters a different take on hockey games.

"It's interesting that we don't consider [this year's] Beanpot as bit a deal the players do," Mainen says. "The game that stands out most in my mind was the loss to Northern Michigan in the NCAA's last year. Tracy made three saves in a row before someone popped one over his head. I still remember the image of him dejected, shoulder slumped, while the other guy had his arms in the air."

But how did they rinkside in the first place? How have a New Yorker who can't skate and a native Minnesotan who never played hockey before attending Harvard become before attending Harvard become the eyes for one of Harvard's most prestigious sports?

Stern began working at WHRB in 1990 as a sophomore after a brief stint as a sorts editor for the Crimson.

"My roommate [Joe Moss] and I listened to the games," Stern says.

"They were good, but we thought, 'We can do better than this."

"We comped and got on. There were no upperclassmen, so we got all the air time with no practice tapes."

Mainen singed on as a junior and learned his trade under Stern and Moss.

"I comped sales and sports and was the sales manager," Mainen says. "I started going to games and did practice tapes. Myself, lan and Joe Moss got a break. It's indicative of how this business works. We got lucky and had an opportunity."

Stern and Mainen first worked together on the air two years ago Working with Moss on a three-mike system, they broadcasted their first Harvard hockey game against Dalhousie, a Canadian team.

"We hardly knew each other, but we had good chemistry ," Stern said. "The three-mike idea didn't work well. The two-mike system worked better since we both like to do play-by-play. We're airhogs."

The broadcasting duo assumed complete responsibility for bringing Crimson hockey to Harvard students after Moss graduated last year. This switch in leadership brought several changes to the hockey broadcasts.

"I had an internship with Channel 5 last year where I picked up things to use as sports director," Mainen says. "The year, we've tried to make it more professional, and we've introduced senior features--in-depth looks at seniors. Its nice for them and their families."

Stern hopes to extend hockey coverage to profiles of opposing teams as far as the Crimson advances in the playoffs.

"Every knows about the guys on our team" he says. "It's nice to get interviews with the other guys. There have to be villains and the more you know about them, the less you like them. You're happier when they lose. That's why it's better to beat good teams than bad teams."

Even with extended coverage and a more professional look, Stern sees few comparisons between the Harvard duo and their professional counterparts.

"Despite the time we spend doing it, professional broadcasters are at a higher level," he says. "All they do for the two days before the game is interview and memorize lines. It takes a lot more energy for us just to know what the hell is going on. We get there an hour before the game, read the notes and it flows from there."

Nevertheless, many would dub them Harvard's Cusick and Sanderson. But Mainen would prefer to be compared to WEEI's Bob Wilson.

"At the Beanpot, I found myself trying to talk in the same rhythm as [Wilson]," he says. "His clarity is second to none. [As a listener.] When you close you eyes you should be able to see the player on the ice. With radio you have to do it."

And they both hope they'll be right there rinkside on April 2 describe Harvard's post-game celebration as national champions.

"I want us to have won the last game they play and not a lot of announcer, college or professional, who call a win as their last game. We know what it's like to lose. We want to go out on a winning note."