"I'm sorry to finish off a fine season with a poor performance," said Denver Coach Ralph Backstrom, whose team won 34 games this year on its way to the Western Collegiate Hockey Association championship. "I guess we were due for a let down. They were awful quick."

Fusco-less

The Crimson was forced to play most of the game without Scott Fusco--its captain and leading-scorer--who went down early in the first-period with a knee injury.

Fourth-line center Greg Chalmers took Fusco's place on the first line while continuing to play on his own line.

"We've had injuries all season," Cleary said. "But somehow we've always overcome injuries and things like that. The kids have rallied all year long. And I think it's been characteristic of our team."

Bourbeau began the Crimson scoring with eight minutes left in the first period when his second shot of the night-a blast from 35 feet off a pass from Randy Taylor on the power-play--eluded Olsen's out-stretched mitt.

But Denver retaliated three minutes later.

Pioneer center Tom Moore flipped a pass to Dwight Mathiasen, lurking in front of the Harvard net.

Mathiasen plucked a shot past Blair for his 40th goal of the year.

Both teams scored once in the second period. But while the Pioneers reeled off 19 shots, the Crimson managed but eight.

But a fine period from Blair kept Harvard in the game.

"I knew we were getting a little bit tired," Blair said. "When that happens I like to come up and play solid and keep the game close. I know if I do that over a certain amount of time, we're going to get going again."

Smith got the Crimson going again with 14 minutes left in the game when his 40-ft. blast soared past a surprised Olson.

"I just came across the blue line, and there seemed to be a lot of congestion on the left side," Smith said. "I crossed in front of the defenseman and used the defenseman as a screen. I think I surprised the goalie. I didn't think it was that hard of a shot."

Another Smith goal and Janfaza's third tally of the season concluded the Harvard scoring.