Rinkside seats were almost as hard to find as a starting position yesterday afternoon at the Arena, as upwards of 65 candidates waited patiently to display their talents before Varsity Coach Johnny Chase in the opening hockey practice of the season.

Chase put his charges through an intensive three-hour scrimmage, employing everyone at least once in an attempt to sort wheat from chaff before the first squad cut on Friday. He would hazard no predictions at practice and, noting only that the team was in far better shape than it was a year ago. But he tempered even this optimism with the statement that "They'd better be; they face the longest, toughest schedule in Crimson history."

Veteran Nucleus Returns

To play the forboding slate, Chase has almost all of the 1946 Varsity to draw from, as well as several members of last year's Freshman squad. Wally Sears, Dave Key, and ex-Captain Johnny Crocker worked out together as forwards yesterday, as did Brom Arnold, Shaw McKean, and former Freshman Captain Dave Ab bott. Veterans Lou Preston and Charlie Coulter teamed up on defense with Pau Coste and Al Key alternating. Captain Jack Lavalle shared net-tending chores with Bill Yetman and John Munro.

Added talent from last year's Freshmen were on hand in the forms of Bill Allen, Gid Loring, Myles Huntington, and Johnny Chase (no relation), with footballers Doug Bradlee, Mel Freedman and the injured Dick Greeley expected to appear next week.

Three-hour practices will continue this without the Freshmen.