As an unpredictable ECAC hockey race comes to a close, the conference's selection committee began to sort out the wheat from the chaff yesterday by naming six teams to the playoffs and eliminating three from contention for the final two spots.

As expected, the University of New Hampshire (14-4-0) was awarded the number one seed. Harvard (13-5-0), which moved into sole position of second place in the East last night by edging Northeastern 3-2 in overtime, grabbed the number two seed, while Boston University (12-6-0) picked up the third spot.

Cornell defeated New Hampshire in Ithaca last Tuesday and moved its way into the fourth seed with a 10-6-1 division record. Providence, which had been tied with the Big Red in the ECAC standings, dropped a 7-2 decision to Brown Wednesday night and has to settle for the fifth seed.

One of the big surprises this season has been St. Lawrence, the number six seed. The Larries went winless in the first 11 games of the season and many were already counting them out of the playoff picture. But with a 5-2 win over Clarkson Wednesday night, St. Lawrence boosted its Division One record to 8-6-1, and is in the playoffs.

The selection committee, headed by New Hampshire's Andy Mooradian, will announce the final two seeds Monday morning. Seven squads are in the running; Dartmouth, Clarkson, Penn, Northeastern, Princeton, RPI and Brown.

Boston College, despite a stunning upset Wednesday night against BU, has been eliminated, as has Yale and Colgate.

The playoffs begin March 5, with the top four teams getting home-ice advantage. Providence travels to Cornell and St. Lawrence plays in BU's Walter Brown rink. New Hampshire will host the number eight seed, while the seven seed comes to Watson Rink for the opener.

The semi-final round will be played March 8 at the Boston Garden, and the finals will be a night later in the same building.