The Ivy League has a rare chance tonight to make its weight felt by the NCAA in the ECAC Hockey Tournament at the Boston Arena.

In the opening semi-final, Brown plays top-seeded Clarkson, and in the 9 p.m. nitecap Ivy champ Cornell faces off against second-seeded Boston University.

As a result of the Ivies' boycott of NCAA tournaments, Clarkson and B.U. will represent the East against the West's top two teams out in Minnesota regardless of the ECAC outcome. But wins by Brown and Cornell would reduce the East's entrants to the status of also-rans and dim the lustre of the NCAA finals.

Brown and Cornell are both underdogs tonight, but an opinion sample of Harvard players - who played Brown, Cornell, B.U. twice, and Clarkson once - shows what an unpredictable two nights of hockey this will be.

Bob Carr: B.U. will have a big advantage playing in its home rink. The Arena is an odd-shaped rink, and Clarkson has a record of doing poorly there.

Bill Fitzsimmons: The winner of the B.U.-Cornell game should beat Clarkson in the final by a couple of goals. B.U. has better teamwork, better defense, and a more solid, better balanced club.

Tag Demment: If any team's going to knock off B.U. it's Cornell. They play B.U.'s type of game and forecheck hard, which is how Colgate beat B.U. earlier this year. Cornell over Clarkson in the final.

Ben Smith: Clarkson's got the boys. They're the best team we played, and they'll be out to show they deserve their number one rating.

Pete Waldinger: Cornell's flying after its 9-0 win over B.C. Cornell has better goalies and a better offense, but-I hate to do it - I have to pick B.U.

Jack Garrity: I wouldn't be surprised if Brown beat Clarkson, but in the final I've got to go with B.U.

Kent Parrot: If (Cornell goalie Errol) McKibbon's on and the Ferguson line is hot. Cornell will upset B.U. But I don't think Cornell can get up for two big games: Clarkson will take the final, 6-4.

All the players do agree about two things, though: they'd hate to see B.U. win, and they'd love an All-Ivy final.