How ironic life is.

The Harvard hockey team enjoyed a successful western swing over the holidays, going 2-1, getting more consistency from its performers, and earning the respect of non-ECAC competition. Meanwhile, the fans back East, oblivious to all this, still remember the icemen as the team that lost, 7-0, to Boston College on December 12.

The one setback that the team suffered came at the hands of Denver University on December 30 in the finals of the Holiday Tournament at Colorado Springs. Denver, ranked number one in the nation, edged the Crimson, 3-2, in overtime.

Harvard took the lead, 1-0, in the second period on a power play goal by George Hughes. Hughes's tally came on a pretty feed from freshman Rick Benson, who has filled in well for the injured Barney Cook on man-up situations.

The Pioneers regrouped in a hurry with two goals in the first minute of the third stanza to go ahead before Gene Purdy tied the contest five minutes later and sent the game into the extra frame.

"Denver was very, very good and they should be rated number one," Purdy said. "But we played them tough and could have won the game, and we proved that we're definitely one of the best teams in the nation," he added.

Harvard won its opening game in the tourney two days earlier with an easy 6-4 triumph over Colorado College. Purdy led the attack with two goals, but the game was highlighted by the return to action of George Hughes after a two-game absence in which he was sidelined with an injured shoulder. George chipped in with a goal.

The presence of the Hughes brothers was most assuredly felt in the tournament, as both George and Jack garnered all-Tourney honors and Jack copped the MVP award in the two-day elimination battle.

Probably the most pleasant surprise of the holiday road trip was the play of sophomore Brian Murphy in the nets. Murphy was called upon to start his first game of the year against Notre Dame on December 22 and responded with a 24-save performance in the Crimson's 4-3 victory over the Irish. Murphy also played in the overtime loss to Denver.

"Brian played really well," Purdy said. "We kid him a lot in practice about being puck shy, but he's like a different goaltender in the games."

The Crimson basketball team traveled to the desert, to Worcester, and to inner-city Detroit over the holiday, coming up with only one win in four tries but playing its first inspired ball of the season.

Led by the inspired efforts of center Brian Banks and diminutive guard Glenn Fine, the Crimson challenged nationally-ranked Detroit in the opening round of the Motor City Classic before falling, 77-69, then downed Long Island University, 73-67, in the consolation game.

Tough

Earlier, the cagers traveled to Tucson to take on the highly-touted University of Arizona squad, but came up on the wrong end of an 83-60 decision.

The squad returned to more familiar parts in its game at Holy Cross December 20, but with similar disappointing results.