Some eight months ago, the varsity hockey team was sitting around the spacious dinner table at the Broadmoor Hotel in Colorado Springs. They had just lost a 2-1 heartbreaker to Clarkson in double overtime to finish last in the NCAA hockey tournament. "If we had had a harder schedule this year," the tenor of conversation ran, "we wouldn't have lost this game. Something has to be done."

Somebody up there must have been listening because the Crimson sextet got just what they were asking for. Starting on Dec. 7, the Crimson plays B.U., B.C., Clarkson, and St. Lawrence before Christmas. Right after New Year's Day, Harvard will go west to take on such teams as Michigan and Minnesota.

It is very fortunate that the H.A.A. was able to arrange this schedule for Coach Cooney Weiland, for if they had not, it would have been a tragic waste of one of the best hockey teams the College has ever had. If Weiland can find a capable goalie to take the place of last year's Captain Jim Bailey, the varsity could go very far.

Indeed, Bailey was the only missing face on the Harvard roster as practice started this week. The first three lines and the two starting defenses have returned intact, along with some good sophomore prospects. Captain Bob Cleary will center the first line with Paul Kelley and Lyle Guttu on his wings. This line is almost interchangeable with the second one of Bob McVey at center and Dave Vietze and Dick Fisher at the flanks. Both are fast, experienced attacking combinations that proved themselves last year.

Ed Owen and Dan Ullyot will once more be at defense, while Dick McLaughlin and John Copeland, who will join the team later, form the other pair. Three veterans of last year, Bill Collins, Bud Higgenbottom, and Dick Reilly will probably make up the third line. The outstanding sophomore so far is Bruce Gillie, a diminutive forward who has looked very good in practice.

The Crimson's first four games are the really crucial ones on the schedule, for if they win these, the road is open to the NCAA playoffs later in the year. B.C. and B.U. have always proved difficult teams even when the Crimson had the superior team and this year should prove no exception. Barring injuries and other mishaps, however, the varsity should win these first two games.

No one can even guess as to the outcome of the next two contests because no one knows how many Canadians have been imported by Clarkson and St. Lawrence. Both teams' squads are made up almost exclusively by inhabitants of our frozen neighbor and their personnel, therefore, is somewhat of a mystery. Clarkson should furnish the tougher game, as it has an outstanding goalie in Dave McDonald. McDonald played rings around all other goaltenders in the NCAA tournament and made some 70 saves against Harvard.

The western trip should furnish invaluable experience for the sextet, as the hockey out there is even more Canadian and of a much higher caliber than in the East. The Crimson will be looking for revenge against Michigan, who beat them in the Colorado tournament last year, 6 to 2.

While it is sheer folly to predict a record for a hockey team at this date, it is safe to say that they will do quite a bit of damage in the Ivy League after playing teams like Michigan and Minnesota. It will be a pleasant winter for Watson Rink fans.