The varsity hockey team opens an important wekend of competition tonight against once-defeated B.C. at the McHugh Forum, in the second of four games scheduled with the Eagles this winter. After taking on Cornell at Watson Rink Saturday night, the sextet will try to slow down the high-scoring Russian amateur squad at Boston Garden Monday.

Unless the Crimson can start the new year off with a victory, it faces a major bootstrap operation to stay in contention for an NCAA bid. Among the varsity's two losses and two ties was a 3-1 opening game defeat to Boston College, which has lost only to Clarkson.

In a way, the sextet is fortunate to catch B.C. at this time, for the Eagles are in something less than top shape physically, while the Crimson is at full strength, except for second line wing Paul Kelley.

The varsity admittedly lacks the dynamic scoring punch it has been famous for over the past four or five seasons. To make up for this, the whole team, especially the forwards, must play a more cautious, cagey game, taking advantage of breaks and not giving the opposition chances for a breakaway. The tactics of falling back to the blue or red line and picking up the offensive man before forechecking is one which Coach Cooney Weiland would like to have his team use against all high-calibre opposition, not only the Russians.

As usual, the Crimson will open with Harry Pratt in the goal, Captain Dick McLaughlin and Mike Graney on defense and the first line of Bud Higginbottom, Dick Fischer, and Dave Vietze. Bob Anderson will play once more with the second line of Dick Reilly and Mo Balboni, and the improving sophomore third line of Crocker Snow, Stew Forbes, and Dave Crosby will remain intact.

Two Starters Ailing

Eagle Coach Snook Kelley indicated that two of his starters and a second line wing were ailing, but would probably play. High scoring center Bill Daley was weak after suffering an infected tooth, and Captain Joe Jangro said he would start at his right defense position in spite of a bruised arm. The other starters are goalie Jim Logue, who turned away 31 of 32 shots against Harvard in the opener, sophomore defenseman Tom Martin, and forwards Ron Walsh and Owen Hughes.

Kelley said that his team knows that the Crimson is good. "Of all the teams we beat, Harvard gave us our hardest game. We have a lot of respect for them." He knows that his team must meet the pressure the varsity usually generates in the third period. Whether the Crimson defense can keep down the scoring is another matter. The Eagles tallied ten goals against R.P.I. and six against St. Lawrence, but were beaten, 6 to 1, by the undefeated Clarkson team which the varsity tied, 4 to 4.

In Cornell, the Crimson will be meeting a team new to Ivy League competition. The Big Red was defeated by Yale in its first League contest in December.