Harvard's inexperienced hockey varsity tonight faces its greatest faces its greatest challenge so far at Watson Rink, where it meets undefeated Boston University at 8 p.m. The Terriers are the pre-season favorite of a majority of the nation's hockey coaches to be the best team in the East.

The Crimson in bowing 6-2 to North eastern and coasting 4-1 over pitifully weak Bowdoin, has shown that it will need time for its young players to develop into a team of Harvard's usual high quality. B.U. meanwhile has mowed over all opposition, reeling off four straight victories against top American and Canadian teams.

New Brunswick, the third-best collegiate team in Canada last year, fell twice to the Terriers, 4-2 and 8-3. B.U. then topped Brown 3-1 and murdered Dartmouth 10-1; both these Ivy League teams finished higher than Harvard last year.

Although the Terriers haven't had a winning season in five years, they should be an Eastern power for years to come.

Their last year's sophomore-dominated varsity and undefeated freshmen explain their meteoric improvement.

B.U.'s most distinguished returning letterman is jack Ferreria, last year's All New England goalie. Protecting him and Vic Conte, along with two sopho-will be veteran defensemen Tom Ross mores, Pete McLachlan and Brian Gilmore. The line of senior co-captains Bob Sylvia and Bob Martell and Junior Dennis O'Connell, has already scored eleven goals in four games.

While Harvard has been generally un-impressive in its first two games, there are a few bright spots. The third line has proved its worth by scoring three of the Crimson's six goals. If the veteran Baldy Smith-Pete Miller-Gordie Price line coulld regain its old touch, Harvard might be able to deliver a fairly effective attack.

Although he has had next to no varsity experience, senior Wade Welch has done a good job in the nets. John Daly and Bob Clark continue to hold their own on defense.

These men will be upset-minded to-night, and the upset-minded can do strange things.