Crimson Six Highly Favored In Traditional Game Tonight

An unpredictable Yale hockey team will battle the League-leading Crimson sextet in the 111th meeting of the two rivals at the Boston Arena tonight at 8:30.

The floundering Eli squad, led by net tender George Scherer and stocked with 12 sophomores, brings a record of six straight defeats in regular competition into the game, while the varsity sextet will be seeking its tenth consecutive victory without a loss.

An upset, always a strong possibility in this annual tilt, will depend mainly on the Eli's ability to repeat its early season performance when it defeated Boston College and Brown.

Although equipped with a solid defensive unit, the Blue has thus far failed to develop a scoring punch. Scherer, the team's workhorse, has had as many as 57 saves in a single game.

Crimson Coach Cooney Weiland, mindful of last year's two upset ties by Yale, said yesterday that he is "definitely not taking this game lightly."

May Emphasize Offense

"The boys are in excellent condition and, of course, we will be out to win," Weiland said. He added that the team may emphasize offense more tonight than in last Tuesday's 5-1 victory over Brown.

Yale's scoring hopes center around versatile Ken MacKenzie and first-line center Dave Ingalls. Ingalls broke his wrist in the R.P.I. Tournament during the Christmas holidays but has played regularly in the team's last five games.

Wing Terry O'Malley, recently declared ineligible for NCAA Tournament play, may not play throughout the game. In anticipation of a tournament invitation, Coach Cooney Weiland may replace O'Malley with Captain Scott Cooledge on the line of Joe Crehore and Bill Cleary, if the Crimson takes a safe lead.

Weiland used the combination frequently late in the Brown game last Tuesday. With Cooledge up on Cleary's line, Frank Mahoney will center the second trio with Ned Bliss and either Arty Noyes or Dough Manchester.

Cleary, who has already scored 68 points this season, will continue his attempt to break the NCAA scoring record of 84 set in 22 games. The game will be Cleary's 17th.

Tonight's game and the return game at New Haven next Saturday may decide the East's All-Star goalie as Charlie Flynn and Scherer are the two leading contenders for the post.