The Crimson varsity hockey team travels to Providence, R.I., tonight to face a 1-5 Brown squad in Brown's Meehan Auditorium at 8 p.m.

Harvard will seek to improve its 3-3 record in its last contest before the Christmas trip to St. Louis, Mo., and South Bend, Ind. The Crimson icemen stand 1-1 in the Ivy League, while the Bruins have lost to Cornell, Princeton and Yale.

Brown has failed to present a formidable offensive threat this year, and four players with only four points apiece lead the team in scoring. The Bruins have tallied 15 times in six games.

In contrast, Harvard's top scorer, Jim McMahon, has collected seven goals and four assists for 11 points, while his teammates Randy Roth and co-captain Bob Goodenow have earned ten and seven points respectively, Harvard has scored 29 goals in six contests.

Brown's sophomore trio of Bob Mars, Steve Menich and Jari Stromberg, the highest scoring freshman line in Brown's history last year, has provided most of the Bruins' scoring punch this season.

In the 5-4 overtime loss to Yale, this line collected three third-period goals to help Brown come back from a 4-0 deficit. Last year Stromberg set a freshman scoring record with 77 points.

The Bruins boast six returning lettermen in their starting lineup. First-line forwards Norm Howarth and Brian Staple ton have two years of varsity experience, while junior right winger Rick Heimbach is a one-year letterman. Heimbach will replace Doug Smith, who separated his shoulder in the Yale game last Wednesday.

All-American

All-American senior Keith Smith anchors the Bruin defense, teaming with junior veteran David Giben to form the first unit. Net minder Jim Madich, a one-year letterman, has given up 20 goals in six games for a 3.33 goals-against average.

The Bruins have a 10 per cent conversion record on 28 power plays, while their opponents have a 5 per cent conversion record on 26 power plays. Harvard has collected six power play goals in 32 opportunities for an 18.8 conversion percentage.

Crimson forwards Leigh Hogan and Jim Thomas will probably not see action tonight due to injuries incurred last week. Sophomore Jim Murray, who has earned a 3.67 goals-against average, will guard the Harvard nets.

"We know how good Harvard is. Our fans question how good we are," Brown coach Allan Soarers said yesterday. "We didn't play well against Yale, and I like to think we can play better. If we can't, it's going to be a long, cold winter for the Brown hockey team and its coach,"