Three Crimson Standouts Hope to Play Pro Hockey

What can a Harvard hockey jock do after he's finished his collegiate career? At least three graduating members of this year's Crimson hockey squad are good enough to consider playing professionally next year.

Joe Cavanagh, Dan DeMichele, and Bruce Durno have all been placed on reserve lists of National Hockey League teams. Similar in effect to a draft in other professional sports, the hockey reserve list binds an amateur player to a professional team-for a period of 90 days after college graduation-for negotiating purposes.

Cavanagh and Durno are on the Boston Bruins' list, while DeMichele is "property" of the Chicago Black Hawks.

None of the three feels that his chances of making an established NHL team are very good, although expansion and minor league clubs remain a possibility, Said Cavanagh, "The Bruins need me like they need a doughnut."

Foregoing professional hockey for the immediate future, both Cavanagh and DeMichele plan to go out for the American Olympic team this fall, while Durno, from Niagara Falls. Canada, doesn't have this option open to him, since Canada currently has no Olympic team due to a dispute over the eligibility of professionals.

Of the three, Cavanagh seems the least interested in hockey as a career. Cavanagh, who said he would probably go to law school, noted, "Money means a lot. I wouldn't like the life of prohockey, but if I felt I could make enough cash, I would play."

DeMichele, also a baseball outfielder who was drafted by the Mets out of high school, said the major dilemma confronting him in deciding his future was that, "the physical beating of hockey isn't worth it for a guy from Harvard. A kid with a college education doesn't want to spend two years in the boondocks playing for $6000 a year."

Goalie Durno, who is also interested in law school, said that he would be willing to play a couple of seasons in the minors if "the Bruins would give me a straight answer as to whether or not they can use me."

Unlike some other sports in which Harvard isn't considered to be a "big-game power." in hockey. Crimson teams and individuals are definitely among the best in the nation. But even for hockey players, the decision to use physical skills or a Harvard degree after graduation is difficult. Said coach Cooney Weiland, "I've never encouraged the boys to play pro hockey. I'd like to see them play, but I'm just delighted they have a college degree."