And except for one tradition-orchestrated near upset of B.U. in the opening round of the Beanpot, the realities came, cold, consistent, and impossible to overlook. They came in setbacks to perennial triumph material like Northeastern (twice), St. Lawrence and Yale (twice), in an 11-3 Son-of-Sam job to Cornell, and in several ambiguous one-goal encounters.
The nightmare finally ended last Saturday night in the cheezy New Haven Coliseum with a 6-5 loss against Yale, and it all left you wondering whether the season as a whole had been a preview of mediocrity to come or some sort of devil's advocate to tradition.
Things do not appear to be taking a turn for the better. The squad will graduate its two best forwards (George Hughes and Purdy), its second best defenseman (Trainor), and veteran spare parts like Steve Andrews, Murray Dea, John Dunderdale, John Cochrane, and Millen. In addition, Jack Hughes, quite possibly the best defenseman in the East, will probably make the Olympic team and pass up his final year of eligibility. These are cavities that refurbished Watson Rink and normal practice hours cannot hope to fill.
The talent of next year's freshman class is critical, but may unfortunately cement the realization that Harvard lost more than a freshman hockey coach when Tim Taylor left for Yale three years ago.
Meanwhile, the zamboni of the mind has stopped, held fast in time by a tradition with seemingly little future. There is no way that any lover of Harvard hockey will let it travel and kid himself about the prospects for next year. Similarly, there is no way that Harvard hockey can sidestep the serious problems of talent and performance that have slowly dispatched it from the pedestal of collegiate hockey. THE RECORD at Dartmouth 2-7 at RPI 5-6 (ot) at Providence 5-2 BOSTON UNIV. 5-8 at Bowdoin 6-4 at Brown 1-2 NEW HAMPSHIRE 8-4 at Vermont 4-7 NOTRE DAME 9-5 Read more in Sports
