The Harvard men's hockey team completed its most successful January in memory, thumping Dartmouth, 7-1, Monday night at Bright Center.

The Crimson, now 12-1-2 (10-1-1 and second in the ECAC), started slowly, but hit its stride in the second period and put the Big Green out to pasture with four scores.

The icemen upped their January mark to 4-1 and avoided the first month jinx that in the past has haunted Harvard hockey.

In the first 20 minutes, however, the team showed the effects of the January curse--two weeks of exams and no organized practices.

"We could have been in trouble with someone else," Harvard Coach Bill Cleary said.

Fortunately for Cleary and his crew, the visitors weren't anybody but the now 4-11 not-so-Big Green.

In December, the Crimson slammed Dartmouth, 11-1 And the talent differential between the two clubs hasn't gotten any smaller in that past six weeks.

"We just couldn't match their quickness," first-year Dartmouth Coach Ron Mason said. "At times we looked as if we were standing still. That's the second time Harvard beat us and as far as I'm concerned it's the best team we've played all year--and that includes RPI and Clarkson."

Freshman Lane MacDonald led the way for the Crimson with three goals and an assist. The left wing got considerable help from his center Scott Fusco (one goal, three assists) and his right wing Tim Smith (three assists).

All night the spotlight was on junior Greg Chalmers, who returned to action for the Crimson after a year-and-a-half absence.

The spotlight wasn't as bright as some had expected, through. Chalmers was visibly disappointed with the way he played. The center skated with senior Brian Busconi and sophomore Tim Barakett on his wings.

"It'll take a few games to get back into it," Chalmers said. "I wasn't as agggressive as I need to be. But I couldn't step into a better situation, with a better bunch of guys."

In the third period, Chalmers got an apparent goal when a cross-crease pass deflected in the net off his skate.

The referee disallowed the score, because he thought that Chalmers had illegally kicked the puck in.

"My honest opinion is that I didn't direct it," Chalmers said. "I didn't see it But I didn't play well enough to deserve a goal."