Harvard Takes on Boston University For ECAC Hockey Supremacy Tonight

The only major difference between the 1974-75 version of the Boston University hockey team and last season's ECAC championship Terrier squad is Pat Devlin. He is the somewhat unfortunate chap that has to fill the skates of graduate Ed Walsh, B.U.'s phenomenal former All-American goaltender.

When the Terriers invade Watson Rink tonight at 7:30 p.m. for the first of what promises to be several crucial ECAC encounters with Harvard, a lot of attention will be focused on the junior Devlin.

"There's been a lot of pressure on Devlin to play well," B.U. coach Jack Parker said yesterday. "But he doesn't have to be an Eddie Walsh for us. We just want him to be himself."

Walsh who was last season's most valuable player in the Eastern playoffs, made 32 saves in the ECAC finals against Harvard as his squad earned a 4-2 victory. "You won't find many college goalies like Walsh," Parker said.

Not the Same

Devlin did not play that well in his first four starts as he allowed 17 goals. He's been in the nets for all but one period this season and has a 4.07 goals-against average as the Terriers have defeated Providence, 7-5, Clarkson, 9-6, Dartmouth, 14-3, and New Hampshire, 6-2. The only loss came at the hands of Bowling Green, 2-3.

The victory over a tough UNH squad last Saturday night was Devlin's best performance so far. "That was his first good game," Parker commented; "he finally relaxed a little."

Fortunately, Devlin has a veteran defense in front of him featuring the likes of Vic Stanfield, and the help of a highpowered offense which bailed him out in the opening two wins over Providence and Clarkson.

Parker has his two veteran defensive pairs of Stanfield, and sophomore John McClellan along with junior Peter Brown and Chris Bannerman. In addition, Jerry Gryp, the brother of former Terrier star Bob, is back from a year's leave to fill in as the fifth defenseman.

Stanfield and Brown have been aiding the offense ably as the two have collected 19 assists between them. Stanfield himself has a pair of goals for 12 points and the team scoring lead.

Parker's potent offense features two five-goal scorers as well as four players who have notched four apiece this season. Bill Robbins and freshman Mike Fidler are the top goal getters, but Fidler, the former Massachusetts high school sensation, will not be seeing any action tonight as he received a game disqualification last Saturday.

In Fidler's place, Parker will probably skate senior Bill Bishop, who is returning to the squad after a five-game NCAA suspension. Bishop was one of many eastern skaters involved in an NCAA review of eligibility, a problem that the B.U. squad has been in the thick of for three years now.

Bill Buckton and Peter Marzo, who tested their eligibility in a well-publicized court case, will be in action tonight. Four-goal scorer Buckton will be at right wing position, while Marzo will be centering the first line.

The line of Buckton, center Rick Meagher and left wing Mike Eruzione has accounted for 12 goals, with each player notching four. Meagher is the team's second leading scorer with ten points, while Eruzione is tied for third with four others at nine points apiece.

Cleary's squad will be able to match Parker's in speed (a Cleary trademark), but the Harvard power play has yet to get untracked this year. So far, in 19 power play attempts, Harvard has scored only three goals. The power play was shut out completely in last Saturday's 4-1 victory over Princeton.

The win over the Tigers was Harvard's third in as many starts, giving the Crimson an unblemished 3-0 ECAC record. The Terriers, picked by many as the top team in the league, are also undefeated (4-0) in ECAC games and tonight's contest should be a preview of what will come this season.