How important was it to the Harvard hockey team that it played three games before its Beanpot semifinal?

"I recommend that the scheduling people do this every year," senior Josh Caplan said.

In recent years, the Crimson (18-1 overall, 15-1 ECAC) had played at most one game before taking to the Boston Garden ice for the Beanpot. And in its last seven trips to the Beanpot, Harvard had failed to win its opening-round contest.

This year, Harvard faced Yale, Princeton and Army before taking on Boston College in the 'Pot. The Crimson still lost its first game after break--a 3-1 decision at Yale in New Haven, Conn.--but it finally broke the Beanpot jinx. Harvard defeated the Eagles, 5-4, last Monday night at the Garden.

The Crimson will meet Boston University in the 'Pot final Monday at the Garden at 8 p.m. The last time Harvard won the title was in 1981.

Middle of Nowhere

Playing three games before the 'Pot semifinals may have been a boost for the Crimson, but spending three days on the road before the final may not be as beneficial.

Harvard takes a long trek into upstate New York this weekend, where the Crimson faces Cornell and Colgate in regular ECAC action. Harvard meets the Big Red in Ithaca, N.Y., tomorrow night and then plays the Red Raiders in Hamilton, N.Y., on Saturday.

"We can't just concentrate on the [Beanpot] finals," Harvard Coach Bill Cleary said. "We have a tough weekend ahead of us."

Staying Sober

Don't plan on drinking any beer at this year's 'Pot.

Boston Garden officials announced Monday that no alcoholic beverages would be served during any Beanpot games.

At last February's 'Pot, Garden vendors were fined for accepting a fake I.D., and the Massachusetts Alcohol Control Commission has forbidden them to serve alcohol during this year's tournament.

The decision, which has been announced during each 'Pot game, didn't provoke much of a response from the Harvard-Boston College crowd.

But spectators at the Northeastern-Boston University game were less than thrilled with the Commission's decision. The announcement drew more attention--and more of a reaction--than the action on the ice.

Fast Lane

Captain Lane MacDonald pulled into a first-place tie with sophomore Peter Ciavaglia in the Crimson scoring race with his team-high five-point performance at Monday's Beanpot game. MacDonald now has 17 goals and 19 assists for 36 points.

MacDonald's second point at the 'Pot--an assist on a C.J. Young goal 28 seconds into the second period--was his 200th career point, making him only the second Harvard hockey player to break that barrier. Scott Fusco '85-86 netted 240 points to be the school's career leading scorer.

Ciavaglia has been the Crimson's assist-man setting up 27 goals this season. With 36 points, Ciavaglia has already surpassed his team-leading total of last year (33).

MacDonald and Ciavaglia are trailed by senior Allen Bourbeau (9-26--35), who leads the ECAC scoring charts with 33 points. Ciavaglia, MacDonald and Young (32 points overall, 30 ECAC) all join Bourbeau in the top five of the ECAC scoring list.

Rumor, Rumor

Cleary's name has been mentioned as a leading candidate for the head coaching position of the 1992 Olympic hockey team, according to Bob Lobell of Channel 4 sports.

In an interview on last night's 6 p.m. news, Cleary said that he had not yet been contacted about the position, but would consider accepting if the offer were made.

Cleary turned down the opportunity to coach the 1980 Olympic team, which won the gold medal at Lake Placid.

In 18 seasons as head coach at Harvard, Cleary has amassed 298 wins and could crack the 300 mark at Colgate this Saturday night. Cleary is also only 17 wins shy of Ralph "Cooney" Weiland's record 315 wins for a Harvard coach.

Goal of the Week

The Beanpot had its share of excitement. Harvard's 11-1 trouncing of Army last Saturday provided several picture-perfect tallies. But the most exciting goal of the week has to be senior Paul Howley's diving stuff in the Crimson's 7-2 triumph over Princeton last Friday.

With Harvard already leading, 5-1, Howley took the puck from junior Tod Hartje heading into the zone. Howley rushed down the left side, cut across in front of Tiger goalie Mark Salsbury, and stuffed the puck into the net while a Princeton defender tripped him from behind.

The goal was Howley's second of the weekend and fourth for the season. The fourth line of Howley, Hartje, and senior Ed Presz tallied 14 points in weekend action.