"You play 22 league games," Riley said. "We'll need a lot of luck. Our players don't get enough rest. It's another one of the little things that makes it difficult for us."

Vermont recently showed the university's commitment to hockey by undertaking a renovation of Gutterson Field House. But the Catamounts may not prove themselves worthy of the $4.6 million splurge.

UVM has many questions to answer before Coach Mike Gilligan can consider his squad a contender for even the middle of the pack. The Catamounts return scoring threats in Jim Larkin (16-12--28), Mike McLoughlin (9-8--17) and John LeClair (5-5--10). LeClair "can beat you almost single-handedly," according to Harvard Coach Ronn Tomassoni. But the talented center has been injury-prone throughout his college career.

Captain Dave Browne had a weak season last year, mainly because of injuries. Harvard hockey faithful will remember Browne as the cursed Catamount who banged home a rebound in the 1989 ECAC tournament semifinal to deprive the Crimson of a Beanpot/ECAC/NCAA celebration.

VERMONT

1989-90 Record: (7-13-2 ECAC, 9-20-2 overall)

Coach: Mike Gilligan

Captain: Dave Browne

Don't expect Vermont to spoil anyone's party this season.

At Dartmouth, there is a time for everything. A time for studying and a time for partying. A time for sleeping and a time for whining about the Review. A time for losing and a time for losing.

This year, the Big Green is rebuilding under Ben Smith. Seven of Dartmouth's 20 skaters will be frosh. Smith said he will try to keep their mental errors to a minimum.

DARTMOUTH

1989-90 Record: (4-14-4 ECAC, 4-18-4 overall)

Coach: Ben Smith

Captain: Mike Daly