Like most coaches, Ralph "Cooney" Weiland keeps a heavy damper on public displays of optimism. He's friendly, and definitely not prose to tear-shedding, but he doesn't generally "rave" about things, especially those things which concern his Crimson hockey team.

It is, then, interesting and highly encouraging that the former Bruins' star--now starting his second season here--should be so enthusiastic about the current Crimson sextet as to say flatly:

"We'll be a better balanced team and better competitively than last year's club."

And Weiland, better than anyone, knows how much the Crimson lost via graduation and how badly it will be handicapped by a schedule which doesn't begin until Monday, and which offers only two--count 'em--games before the Christmas recess.

"We'll miss Johnny White most of all," says Weiland. White was the defense man who never played organized hockey until his senior year, but was talented enough to win a first-team berth on the Pentagonal League's all-star squad. This year, by the way, he is working out with the U.S. Olympic group, and stands a fair chance of making the squad.

Scoring Better Distributed

Weiland will also have trouble replacing last year's first line. Joe Kittredge, Captain Law Preston, and Hal Marshall between them scored an awesome 54 goals.

"That concentrated scoring punch will be tough to find," admits Weiland, "but I think our goal-getting will be better distributed this year."

The current--although tentative--first line consists of three juniors. Left wing Amory Hubbard was co-winner of the rookie of the league award last year, while center Walt Greeley--the best along-the-boards player on the team--won the Angier Trophy as the most improved man on the Crimson squad. George Chase, a utility man in '50-'51, and a fine skater, works at right wing.

Here, as elsewhere. Weiland has been experimenting. One of his more pleasant vexations has been the plethora of talented players with which he has had to work.

"I'm not going to cut anyone else for a while," he says. "Things are still pretty.

Another forward combination pairs wings Jim Colt and John "Job" Bray around Dick Clasby. These three sophomores work well together, Weiland thinks. Norm Wood, last year's freshman captain, has also been skating with this group.

Weiland has decided to utilize the speed of defenseman Jim Wykoff, and is now working him on a line with two out of three of Bill Timpson, Nat Harris, and Morgle Hatch, all veterans. Jim Welch and Fred Horween may fit in, too; Weiland particularly likes Horween's shooting.

Defense Looks Strong

A particularly pleasant aspect of this year's club is its strong defense, headed by Captain Dusty Burke. Both Burke and his blue line partner, Bill Bliss, have two years of superior varsity play behind them; both have continued to look good this year.

Jim O'Brien--who has also played some on the wing--and sophomore Tony Patton have been working together, with Dan Simonds--who played House hockey last year--also fitting in. ("Simonds is big," says Weiland, "but he needs experience.")

Football injuries have so far sidelined big Jeff Coolidge, a star of the '54 club from whom Weiland expects much: "He's a hard body-checker, and an all-around rugged player."

Goalie doesn't really present much of a problem, because both Nate Corning and Brad Richardson--who shared the starting job as sophomores last year--are back. Ken Eddy, a transfer from Oberlin, is playing his first season in Crimson livery. Weiland is "high" on him; he could see lots of service. And John Marshall, freshman starter last year, offers extra protection.

This Crimson squad has plenty of good reserves behind fine starters. Unfortunately, though, the thinness of the pre-Christmas schedule will hinder it because, as Weiland says, "you need games really to get into the feel of things." But through the comfortable haze of preseason air, it appears to be a better-than-average club, fast, and capable of scoring. Above all, capable of playing interesting-to-watch hockey against all comers.