Weakened Varsity Sextet Battles Princeton Tonight

Hurt by the loss of veteran wingman Ned Bliss, Cooney Weiland's sextet takes on defending champion Princeton tonight at 9 p.m. in the Garden in its second try to clinch the Pentagonal crown. Dartmouth and Boston University class in the 7 p.m. preliminary.

The varsity needs only a tie tonight to win its first league title since 1937. A victory will give the Crimson an unmatchable total of 11 points, but a loss would threw the final first place decision squarely onto Saturday's contest with Yale.

Princeton has long been mathematically eliminated from a chance at the top position. The tigers, led by Captain Blair Terrey, come to Cambridge free of pressure, intent on avenging their earlier, hard-fought 6 to 4 loss to the varsity. If goalie Terrey is hot, as he usually is, the Crimson will need every advantage of a home risk to pull off a second win.

Crimson chances of overpowering Princeton with three strong lines received a jolt yesterday when it was learned that Bliss is almost certainly sidelined. The right wing's loss will greatly out the scoring potency of Weiland's Frank Mahoney-job Bray-Bliss combination. Sophomore Pete Summers will probably move up to the third line spot, the Crimson coach said yesterday.

Blise' Shoulder Hurt

Bliss, who earlier in the season injured his elbow, was apparently favoring it when he was hurled into the boards at New Haven last Saturday. He managed to escape reinjuring the elbow, but severely bruised his shoulder in the process. The arm was still in a sling yesterday.

With his third line below normal strength, Weiland expects to stick with hard-playing Captain Normie Wood on the first line and Doug Manchester on the second. In an effort to give the second line greater scoring punch, the coach had moved Wood down to center it for Saturday's Yale game.

Wood who has played aggressively all season, will be back on the first line wing again playing with Bill Cleary and Dick Clasby. Doug Manchester drops from the first line wing position to center for Joe Crehore and Scott Cooledge on the second line.

Charlie Flynn, who played brilliantly in the Crimson's 3 to 3 Yale tie, is again in the nets behind veteran defensemen Jeff Coolidge and Ed Mrkonich.