Fusco Injured

Harvard Captain Scott Fusco separated his shoulder 30 seconds into Saturday's 5-4 loss to Clarkson in a collision with Golden Knight forward Charlie Meitner.

The injury may keep Fusco out of action when the icemen face Colgate this weekend in the opening round of the ECAC Tournament.

Crimson Coach Bill Cleary said yesterday that he was still waiting to hear word of Fusco's condition from Dr. Arthur Boland, the team doctor and chief orthopedic surgeon for the Harvard athletic staff.

Boland could not be reached for comment last night.

"I wouldn't be optimistic," Cleary said, "and I wouldn't play him if there was any doubt."

According to Fusco, Boland has diagnosed the injury as a probable first-degree separation, which usually takes five to 14 days to heal.

Fusco says it is "a possibility" that he will play this weekend, and "highly unlikely" that he will be sidelined beyond the opening round of the tourney.

The senior's therapy calls for icing the shoulder and resting it until the pain goes away.

"It was a lousy check and there was no penalty," Cleary said. "In retrospect, it's lousy to put him out, especially on a hit like that.

"You don't fill in for Scotty," Cleary concluded.