More Gloomy News For Icemen: Weisbrod Will Have Surgery

Harvard hockey thought it already had received its fair share of bad news this week, when Boston University knocked the Crimson out of the Beanpot, 8-2, for the second straight year.

But this week, Harvard added another disappointing chapter to its injury report. Senior forward John Weisbrod, who sustained a second bulging disk in his back in a game against Clarkson on January 5, will undergo surgery on February 15. The good news is that Weisbrod could technically be back on his feet in a week's time. Even in the best scenario, however, the senior standout is likely to be out at least until the ECAC playoffs.

And Kevin Sneddon, who returned to action against B.U. Monday night, re-separated his shoulder after taking a cheap hit from Terriers forward Doug Fried-man. The junior defender is now doubtful to play in this weekend's matchups against Colgate and first-place Cornell.

"Kevin is not an offensive player, but not having him out there hurts us offensively," ECAC leading scorer Peter Ciavaglia said. "He makes our job easier, because we don't have to concentrate as much on offense. [His absence] will make us play more defensively."

Watch Out, Harvard: Nobody likes to lose. Nobody wants to play in the Beanpot's consolation round. Nobody enjoys watching the Beanpot final from the stands.

But for the Huskies, the consolation round is a way of life. And as Northeastern makes its way into its third consecutive round of booby-prize play in the Beanpot, McKenney wants the Crimson to know that third place won't be so easy to come by.

"Harvard has a very good team and some excellent players," McKenney said. "It's just who wants to play that night. Our kids are still up for it. Harvard had better take a good look at the second Monday in February."

Don't You Hate It When......history repeats itself?

Last year, Harvard dropped the Beanpot final to Boston University, 8-2. That was the Crimson's worst loss sonce 1983, when the Eagles of Boston College crushed Harvard, 10-4.

It took less than a year for Harvard to push the limits of defeat again, to the same team. The Terriers blew the game open with seven straight goals, and again won, 8-2.

The Crimson can be thankful for one thing--Terriers forward Tony Amonte's one tally was not shorthanded. Last year, adding major insult to injury, the sophomore forward burned Harvard for a goal when B.U. was skating only three men.

Revolving Door: Since the Reading Period slide, the Crimson goaltending duties have been switched around constantly by Harvard Coach Ronn Tomassoni.

After trying junior Allain Roy against St. Lawrence, Clarkson and Brown, Tomassoni started Chuckie Hughes against Yale. Hughes was replaced halfway through the second period--after four Eli tallies--by senior Mike Francis.

Francis picked up the start against the Cadets last Friday, his third this year, and came away with the Crimson's first victory since December 15. The next night, Roy sparkled in a 7-0 Harvard win, recording his first shutout of the year.

On the strength of that performance, the Kirkland House junior earned the starting slot against the Terriers. He was not successful, although B.U.'s speed opened up numerous 2-on-1's and 3-on-2's. For the third period, Hughes took the net, surrendering one final power-play goal to Terriers freshman defender Scott Lachance.

Now the question becomes: who will stand between the twines for the Crimson as the ECAC season enters its final stretch?

Getting Up For The Big One: Northeastern goalie Tom Cole may have been cooking when he dived, snagged and blocked 51 Boston College shots, one save shy of the Beanpot record, in the Huskies' 5-3 loss Monday evening.

But Northeastern Coach Don McKenney's praise for his netminder was tempered by a large issue: whether or not Cole can sustain that high level of play in the Huskies' key games down the stretch.

"I definitely think that was his best game of the year," McKenney said. "He just has to make sure he can get up for the big game. [The B.C. game] was an exceptional performance. But I think Tommy has to work on being prepared even when he might not always be prepared."

A New Beanpot Record: The Harvard section of the Boston Garden looked empty and spiritless compared with the packed B.U., Boston College and Northeastern sections. Terriers fans wore over-sized painters caps emblazoned with what seemed to be the school motto--"We want more!" --and chanted affectionate words at the mute Harvard band. B.C. fans came decked out in tacky purple-and-gold rugby shirts. Even Northeastern fans waved banners to HARVARD MEN'S HOCKEY (10-9 overall, 10-6 ECAC) Player  GMS8  G  A  PTS  P/PM Peter Ciavaglia  19  20  29  49  0/0 Ted Donato  19  13  32  45  9/18 Mike Vukonich  19  26  18  44  8/16 Ted Drury  17  12  14  26  7/14 Steve Flomenhoft  19  9  8  17  15/30 Tim Burke  19  8  5  13  11/22 Scott Barringer  19  4  7  11  6/12 Sean McCann  19  2  9  11  28/56 Derek Maguire  16  2  9  11  6/12 John Weisbrod  5  2  8  10  4/8 Brian Farrell  19  3  6  9  4/8 Matt Mallgrave  17  2  7  9  5/10 Lou Body  18  1  5  6  3/6 Michel Breistroff  17  3  2  5  8/16 Jim Coady  19  2  3  5  12/24 Brian McCormack  19  0  5  5  9/18 Rich DeFreitas  12  0  3  3  7/14 Chris Baird  12  1  1  2  1/2 Kevin Sneddon  10  0  1  1  7/14 Chuckie Hughes  8  0  1  1  1/2 Mike Francis  4  0  1  1  0/0 Craig Miskovich  10  0  0  0  1/2 Allain Roy  10  0  0  0  2/4 David Kilpatrick  4  0  0  0  1/2 TOTALS  19  110  176  286  164/328 Opponents  19  71  109  180  162/356

Player  GMS  MP  W  L  T  SV  GA  GAA  SV% Allain Roy  10  576  5  5  0  236  34  3.54  .874 Mike Francis  4  211  2  1  0  90  9  2.56  .909 Chuckie Hughes  8  348  3  3  0  156  27  4.66  .852 TOTALS  19  1135  10  9  0  482  71  3.75  .872 Opponents  19  1141  9  10  0  514  110  5.78  .824

show loyalty to the Huskies hockey team, which is dead last in the Hockey East.

But the weak Harvard showing was no fault of Crimson Captain Ted Donato.

The Dedham native held 97 tickets for friends and relatives to come see the Harvard-B.U. game. Donato, who was drafted by the Boston Bruins in the fifth round of the 1987 draft, hopes to return to play many games in the Garden beyond next Monday's Beanpot consolation matchup against Northeastern

Player  GMS  MP  W  L  T  SV  GA  GAA  SV% Allain Roy  10  576  5  5  0  236  34  3.54  .874 Mike Francis  4  211  2  1  0  90  9  2.56  .909 Chuckie Hughes  8  348  3  3  0  156  27  4.66  .852 TOTALS  19  1135  10  9  0  482  71  3.75  .872 Opponents  19  1141  9  10  0  514  110  5.78  .824

show loyalty to the Huskies hockey team, which is dead last in the Hockey East.

But the weak Harvard showing was no fault of Crimson Captain Ted Donato.

The Dedham native held 97 tickets for friends and relatives to come see the Harvard-B.U. game. Donato, who was drafted by the Boston Bruins in the fifth round of the 1987 draft, hopes to return to play many games in the Garden beyond next Monday's Beanpot consolation matchup against Northeastern

show loyalty to the Huskies hockey team, which is dead last in the Hockey East.

But the weak Harvard showing was no fault of Crimson Captain Ted Donato.

The Dedham native held 97 tickets for friends and relatives to come see the Harvard-B.U. game. Donato, who was drafted by the Boston Bruins in the fifth round of the 1987 draft, hopes to return to play many games in the Garden beyond next Monday's Beanpot consolation matchup against Northeastern