The key veterans up front aretheseniors--Hughes, Purdy and Cochrane. George enters his final year with 121 career points--eighth on the all-time Harvard scoring list. Though he has led the team in scoring for the last three years, Hughes' production has fallen off as his stature around the league has risen. With some consistent scoring help from one or two teammates, George should have his finest season ever.
Purdy, though hampered by injuries, has been the squad's most consistent winger for the last two years while his point totals have risen. Cochrane and his brutal slapshot both came into their own last season as John took a regular shift on the power play and finished third on the squad in scoring.
In addition to McDonald, sophomores Phil Evans, Tommy Musran and Rick Benson were streaky last year, but all showed signs of the goal-scoring ability that will be demanded from them this time around.
On defense the loss of Kevin O'Donaghue and Bobby Fowkes leaves a rather questionable situation. Jackie Hughes remains the All-East, pro-bound patriarch of the backlines. Steady Jim Trainor returns for his fourth season on the varsity, while newcomer Carter and letterman John Dunderdale join him to form the upperclass nucleus. The strength of the supporting cast for Jackie, though, will rely heavily on the play of freshmen Mitch Olson, a bruiser from Minnetonka, Minn., and Alan Litchfield from Scituate, Ma.
Junior John Hynes, who received a severe baptism in the varsity nets last season but still wound up with the third best goals-against average in the Ivies, was beaten out at least for the moment by freshman Wade Lau for the starting goalie berth. Lau, a high school star in St. Paul, had a strong camp and was praised by players for his ability to force shooters to commit themselves.
So it's off to Hanover to face the always pesky Woodsmen, a game which will surely be an adequate first indication of whether or not Cleary, the Hugheses and the seven freshmen might throw off the shackles of late-season lethargy and become "Harvard hockey" once more.
Bill Scheft's ECAC Predix:
Pre-Season Playoff Favorites:
1. Boston University
2. Boston College
3. Cornell
4. Providence
5. New Hampshire
6. R.P.I.
7. HARVARD
8. Yale