Icemen Licking Wounds

The Harvard men's hockey team is starting to look like a first-aid camp.

After playing six games in 11 days, including its first loss in more than a month on Monday night (to Boston University in the Beanpot finals), the Crimson must heal its wounds.

The good news for Harvard is that sophomore forward Michael Breistroff will most likely be back in action this weekend after missing six games due to a leg injury.

The bad news is that everyone else remains out of commission. Freshman forward Steve Martins, sophomore defender Lou Body and sophomore forward Brian Farrell are all still ailing.

Martins, who was sidelined with a shoulder injury against Princeton, is being evaluated day-to-day and could possibly play this weekend.

Body, ailing with a broken hand, and Farrell, suffering from a calcified thigh contusion, are out indefinitely.

Tight ECAC Race

With four teams within two points of the conference lead, the ECAC is about as competitive as it can get.

Harvard and St. Lawrence lead the standings, each sporting 25 points. Clarkson and Yale both trail the leaders by two points.

Unfortunately for the Crimson, this weekend's schedule is relatively easy for every team except Harvard.

Clarkson and St. Lawrence will drive down New York state to face two of the three worst teams in the ECAC--Rensselaer and Union. The Engineers and the Skating Dutchmen, who have combined for a 5-23-4 record, will have to pull off a major miracle to send either powerhouse home disappointed.

While the teams from the North Country are collecting their wins, Yale will travel to Dartmouth and Vermont over the weekend.

The Catamounts could cause some problems for the Bulldogs, but the team has not lost to the Big Green for seven seasons. The Elis should come away from the weekend with at least one win.

All of this will not please Harvard, which will undoubtably face competitive games at home against Cornell and Colgate.

Coughlin Honored

Freshman Ben Coughlin captured ECAC Rookie of the Week honors for his outstanding offensive output last week.

Coughlin went 2-4-6, including scoring Harvard's first goal in the opening round Beanpot game against Boston College.

A Coach's Son

Harvard Coach Ronn Tomassoni wasn't certain he would be able to make his team's road trip last weekend.

Unlike his players, Tomassoni had reasons other than personal injury for possibly missing the trip. His wife, Pam Tomassoni, was pregnant, very pregnant.

The coach, however, was able to make to road trip after Pam gave birth to Keith Joseph Tomassoni, who weighed in at nine pounds, early last Wednesday.

With mother and child both recovering nicely, Tomassoni was able to make the journey down to Yale.

Keith has already passed the first test of being a coach's son: He was born between games.

Olympic Crimson

Harvard alums Ted Donato and C.J. Young have been making their presense felt at the Winter Games in Albertville.

Donato netted a goal in USA's 2-0 victory over Germany Tuesday and picked up an assist in the team's 6-3 win against Italy.

Young notched a goal against Italy.

Loud Parker

BU Coach Jack Parker may be a college hockey guru, but he's certainly no referee.

With 12 seconds remaining in the second period Monday night, BU freshman forward Mike Prendergast slid into the left corner of the net and slapped the puck in on a wide open net. The referees waved off the goal.

That's Parker's version of the story.

"They called off a goal. Next question," Parker said to a television reporter after the period had ended.

When pressed again, Parker rechanted his mantra, "They called off a goal. Next question."

Of course, Parker conveniently ignored why the net was wide open. Before Prendergast made his charge, BU forward Doug Friedman, crossing in front of the net, smashed Harvard goalie Chuckie Hughes to the ice, leaving the Crimson senior stretched out and the net ripe for the picking.

Friedman was summarily banished to the sin-bin for slashing.

Tickets

Tickets for the last home games of the season against Dartmouth and Vermont will go on sale next Tuesday at 9 a.m. at the Athletic Ticket Office in the basement of Harvard Hall.

Students may use coupons #11 and #12 for the games.