Hockey coach Cooney Weiland will hold the season's first practice for 40 varsity candidates this afternoon at the Boston Garden. Weiland's main problem will be finding defensemen, since senior Ned Almy is the only returning blue-line veteran.

Last year's second line of Captain Scott Cooledge, Doug Manchester, and Joe Crehore will return intact. First line center Bill Cleary, Ned Bliss, and Frank Mahoney are the remaining forwards who earned letters last year. Junior goalie Charlie Flynn, with a year's varsity experience, may be pushed by sophomore Jim Bailey.