Donato Out With Injury To Collarbone

The Harvard hockey team found out yesterday that its first victory of the season did not come without a price.

Junior forward Ted Donato learned that the injury he sustained after scoring a goal in the first period of the Crimson's 9-6 pasting of Princeton Saturday night at Bright was more serious than he had feared. Diagnosed with a broken collarbone, the speedy wing will be kept out of action for four to eight weeks.

"I'm just hoping to get back as quickly as I can," Donato said. "I feel an obligation to the team, being a junior, with all the young guys we've got. It's disappointing to be out just when it looked like we were starting to pull together."

Last season, Donato was one of Harvard's five 50-point scorers, notching 14 goals and 37 assists on the season. The Kirkland House resident capped off his season by scoring two goals in the NCAA championship game against Minnesota, nabbing MVP honors for the tournament.

This year, Donato had scored a point in each of Harvard's first four games, as the Crimson struggled to a record of 1-2-1. Donato was playing wing along with Captain C.J. Young on Harvard's first line, centered by freshman Ted Drury. Harvard Coach Bill Cleary said he had not yet decided who will replace the ailing speedster when Harvard takes on RPI Saturday night.

"I'm hoping my injury will rally the guys," Donato said. "Maybe the guy who steps in for me will play great. I really hope so."