Harvard's hockey team resolved its schizoid tendencies over Christmas vacation, and rolled up four solid victories. The Crimson was also named the outstanding team at the First Boston Garden Hockey Festival after defeating Toronto, 4-1 and Minnesota, 5-2 on Dec. 21 and Dec. 23. Captain Gene Kinasewich was voted most valuable player, and left wing Ike Ikauniks and defenseman Bob Clark were also named to the All-Star Team.
The varsity ran its winning streak to four with victories this weekend over Boston University, 4-3, and Norwich, 11-2, bringing its season record to 8 wins and 2 losses.
In Harvard's first Festival game on Dec. 21, the Crimson outhustled the top-ranking Toronto varsity. Vanquishing the varsity was no small feat, as the Canadians are undefeated in their League play. They suffered their third loss in exhibition matches at the sticks of the Crimson. The Canadians had trouble getting "up" for the game, according to their coach.
Excellent goal tending by Barry Sweitzer bolstered the Crimson defense. With its aggressive offense and good stick-handling, Harvard simply outplayed Toronto.
Harvard took the lead before two minutes of play had elapsed. The puck passed from Bob Clark to Barry Treadwell to Bill LaMarche who bashed it in from 15 feet in front of the cage. Shortly before the end of the first period, Toronto scored its sole goal on a deflected drive.
Barely a minute into the second period, Kinasewich put the Crimson ahead when a shot by Lamarche bounced off a Toronto skate into the crease. Mike Patterson then scored on a slap shot into the left corner of the cage. The final goal of the game was scored six minutes into the third period when Clark's pass was deflected by John Stevens into the net.
Throughout the match Toronto suffered from penalties, receiving eight while Harvard got only one. The American prohibition of checking in the offensive zone repeatedly troubled the Canadians.
However, Toronto rallied in the next round of play to smash B.C., 9-1, in a thriller which included two fist fights.
In Harvard's second game of the Festival, Kinasewich gained his first hat trick of the season. The Minnesota Gophers, who defeated Northeastern in the initial round of tournament play, held their own only for the first period.
The Crimson scored halfway through the first period when Jorge Gonzalez, slipped in a backhand shot from 12 feet in front of the cage. Minnesota tied it up shortly before the buzzer, but Harvard moved ahead of the Gophers permanently with two goals in the first three minutes of the second period.
Early in the third period Minnesota's captain scored the last Gopher goal. Forward Treadwell, assisted by Baldy Smith and A few seconds later Bill Fryer fed the puck straight down the center to Kinasewich who took it right into the defenseless Minnesota net making the score 5-2. Harvard's third vacation match proved more exciting as the Crimson came from behind in the third period Friday night to beat the B.U. Terriers 4-3 at the Boston Arena. Both sextets scored twice in the opening minutes, alternating goals. Harvard's goal by John Daly on a pass The Terriers, Ken Burnes' return to the ice from a penalty early in the last period put Harvard back at full strength, and he immediately evened the score on an assist from Sahlin. Kinasewich, receiving the puck from Ikauniks, scored the Crimson's fourth goal, winning the game, 4-3. The Crimson utterly obliterated the Wednesday Harvard will meet B.C. at McHugh Forum, and Saturday the Crimson sextet is slated to take on Cornell at Ithaca