The varsity hockey team will have the opportunity of taking on last year's "Champion of the East" when it meets Clarkson at 7 p.m. tonight at the Boston Arena. The Black Knights gained this highly unofficial title last spring when they beat the Crimson 2 to 1 in the second overtime of the NCAA consolation game at Colorado Springs.

Coach Cooney Weiland and his sextet, then, have a definite score to settle with this Canadian-dominated team. The final goal of this 2-1 loss, moreover, was of the cheapest variety, as Captain Ed Rowe scored it by digging it out from under varsity goalie Jim Bailey's pads after the whistle had evidently been blown.

While Clarkson's starting lineup is as strong as the one that Harvard faced last spring, the depth may play a very large role. The Black Knights have a very good first line, a solid starting defense, and an outstanding goalie, but beyond this, the quality of its team tapers off noticeably. This was brought to light by its 5-4 defeat earlier this year at the hands of a relatively fast but inexperienced Middlebury sextet. While Middle- bury is definitely improved over last year, it has never had a really topnotch hockey team and its win over Clarkson demonstrated the Black Knights' lack of depth.

Tonight's game between the varsity and Clarkson is just one of a round robin this week at the Arena between B.U., B.C., St. Lawrence, and the above two teams. The results of this pocket tournament will be instrumental in deciding which teams will go to the post-season NCAA tourney in Minnesota. Clarkson's meagre depth will be put to a definite test, as the Black Knights played a scrappy B.C. sextet last night.

Clarkson Goalie Tops

Varsity hockey fans tonight will have the opportunity of watching perhaps the best collegiate goalie in the country. Clarkson's goaltender, Ed MacDonald, laid claim to this title last spring, when he played two incredible games against Colorado College and the varsity, making over 100 saves in the two games. He was almost single-handedly responsible for his team's win over the varsity in the consolation game, as he stopped at least four shots which would have eluded even the best of the rest of the collegian goaltenders.

The rest of the Clarkson starting team is equally formidable. Grant Childerhose and Bob Van Lammers are the first line wings, and teamed with sophomore center Mel Tomalky they make a fast and potentially high-scoring trio. The defense of Gil Tennant and Al Graham is a powerful and experienced one that saw extensive action in last year's NCAA tourney. The question is, then, how long can these players last?

The varsity will go into tonight's game with the same lineup it had against B.U., with one exception. Bruce Gillie will not be able to start on the second line as he is definitely out of action with a separated shoulder. Weiland will start either Mike Graney or Les Duncan in his place, along with Bob McVey and Dave Vietze.

The rest of the Crimson's starting lineup will be the same, as Lyle Guttu, Captain Bob Cleary, and Paul Kelley will once more open as the starting line. Ed Owen and John Copeland will alternate at defense with Dick McLaughlin and Dan Ullyot, while Tab Cleary will be the goalie