Terry Flaman: Fewer Minutes in Box, But Less Ice Time for Hockey Veteran

In an attempt to find a combination that will make his team realize its potential, Harvard hockey Cooney Weiland has made several changes in his line-up last year.

After miserable team performances against Northeastern and Princeton, Weiland shook up the team. Senior defenseman and three-year veteran Terry Flaman was benched by the move.

Disappointing Defense

The entire defense has been disappointing this year, but Flaman is apparently bearing more of the blame than most of his teammates.

His ten minute misconduct penalty after a brief verbal exchange with a referee at Princeton probably had something to do with his demotion. But some say Flaman has failed to live up to the potential promised by his performances in his sophomore and junior years.

Hatchet Man

Flaman maintains that he has been hitting less this year. As a sophomore, he quickly earned a reputation as one of the Ivy League's hachet men, totaling forty-nine minutes in the penalty box. Flaman feels they were well earned minutes: "I asserted myself. I made sure I'd be remembered." He was remembered, by the referees as well as the players.

Flaman missed half of his junior season but returned to terrorize forwards who quickly learned not to tangle with him in the corner or stand in front of the Harvard goal too long. Flaman finished the season with 21 minutes of penalties and evidence that he was respected and feared.

An increased sense of responsibility arrived with his senior year. Flaman had indeed "asserted himself." but now he felt the need to stay out of the penalty box.

He, however, ended up on the bench as he and his defensive mates often made careless mistakes that helped Harvard lose games it should have won.

Flaman regrets his decision to play a more conservative brand of hockey. He points out that B. U. and Cornell intimidate and beat teams by playing physical, tenacious hockey. Flaman says his skill isn't "speed, but ruggedness." Without his ruggedness, he feels he is a less effective hockey player.

Flaman may not see too much action during the remainder of the season. He has made occasional appearances on defense and on a "checking line" composed of George Murphy Howie McAlpine, and himself, but his ice time has been minimal.

He is discouraged about his own chances but still feels that Harvard. "if they got up, if they got a few good breaks, could go all the way" and heat their ECAC opponents, including an undefeated Cornell team that recently bombed Harvard 9-3. "Cornell went all out in the first period, but we stayed with them. Then we fell apart in the second period. Cornell was its best in the first period, not the second period." Cornell scored six goals in that second period to break open a 2-2 game.

Hang Em Up

Flaman is a hockey player with a family tradition. His father, Fernie, was a star for the Boston Bruins, and Terry himself would like to try some minor league hockey. Despite his present discouragement, he is still devoted to the game. "I've played hockey too long to just hang up the blades and walk out. What would I do tomorrow?"