Hockey

Dartmouth's improved hockey team has played two more games than the basketball team thus far and has won eight and lost five. Since last report the Big Green skaters have defeated Northeastern 7-4, lost to Williams 4-1 and Boston University 6-2, triumphed over Army 6-2, and bowed to Providence 8-2 in the Christmas Holiday tournament at Boston. In January games, Dartmouth defeated Norwich 8-2, Brown 5-3, and Yale 8-1.

The three games in Boston plus several practice sessions during the holidays were good for the squad, Coach Eddie Jeremiah reports. "The team is developing nicely," says Jerry. "Our first three lines are all potentially dangerous, our defense is strong, and the team seems to be getting better all the time."

Actually, Coach Jeremiah has been juggling his starting lines in almost every game to date. The Charlie Sellman-Dave Chapin-John Strong line and the John Wadman-Rod Anderson-John Lanigan line have often alternated, with the Charlie Sprott-Dave Spaulding-Bob Batson line also in contention as starters.

Tony Gittes and Dan Goggin continue to hold down the first-team defense with Dick Frankenberg at goal. Fred Bagnell, however, looked impressive at goal in the Army game, while Tippy Putnam and Clayton Freeman have stepped in nicely as needed.

Center Dave Chapin and wing John Wardman are tied for the scoring lead with 16 points each in twelve games, both with seven goals and nine assists. Rod Anderson and John Lanigan, both wings, have seven goals each, while Anderson has eight assists for 15 points and Lanigan seven assists for 14 points. Defenseman Dan Goggins, who bursts down ice on occasion, has notched three goals and six assists for nine points, while Captain Charlie Sprott has scored three times with four assists for a seven point total.

Actually, the Indians lead the Ivy League with wins over Brown and Yale, but they have eight more league games ahead. Harvard again appears to be the team to stop this year.

Although the Dartmouth hockey team this year has improved greatly over the teams of the past several years, it is still true that the Indian skaters have a way to go before reaching the caliber of the immediate post-war Dartmouth teams. Nor can the Big Green be expected as yet to really be tops in the league. However, a steadily improving team this winter, with some very talented sophomores, plus an unusually strong freshman team, would seem to indicate that the days of both "artificial ice and artificial players" are beginning to end.

A view along the Dartmouth "bench" at the opening home meet, won from Syracuse.