Freshman Eligibility Affects Hockey Slate

A decision to "hold the line" on a complete program of freshman athletics has led Dartmouth to remove three opponents from its 1971-72 hockey schedule. The move, announced in mid-November by Director of Athletics Seaver Peters, was prompted by the decisions of ECAC Division One teams outside of the Ivy League to permit freshmen to participate in varsity hockey.

Missing from the 1971-72 schedule as a result of the decision are New Hampshire, Colgate, and Army.

The matter developed earlier this fall when the Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) voted to permit freshman eligibility in varsity hockey. The vote brought the ECAC into line with NCAA rules which now permit freshman eligibility in all sports at the University Division level except football and basketball.

The Ivy League, however, voted last spring to permit freshman participation at the varsity level only in sports of an individual nature (golf, tennis, swimming, track, etc.).

"We value our relationships with these institutions," said Peters, in announcing the decision handed down by the Dartmouth College Athletic Council, "but Dartmouth believes strongly in a complete program of freshman athletics. It was implicit in the original contracts with UNH, Colgate, and Army that freshmen would not be eligible. Following the vote on freshman eligibility by the ECAC, we asked our opponents not to use freshmen in their games with Dartmouth and they declined."

At the time contracts for the games were signed, Peters indicated, all parties were prepared to play their 1971-72 schedules with varsity teams that did not include freshmen.

The Athletic Council was unani- mously in favor of replacing the games With one exception, members of Dartmouth's varsity hockey team also favored the decision.

The original vote of ECAC members on the question was 82-26 in favor of freshman eligibility. However, of 17 Division One teams, 10 opposed the use of freshmen. These included seven Ivy League colleges (Columbia does not play hockey), Clarkson, St. Lawrence, and Boston College.

Peters noted that while teams such as those participating in the Great Lakes Invitational Tournament (Michigan Tech, Michigan State and Notre Dame) as well as St. Louis University, remain on the schedule, it was known when agreements were signed that freshmen would be playing for these midwestern colleges.

"The opportunity for participation in freshman sports is fundamental to Dartmouth's athletic program," said Peters. "We feel it's essential to a student's academic and athletic growth in college."

Considering the financial aspects of the matter, Peters said, "Most colleges which favor freshman eligibility feel the economic pinch of supporting two teams. Still, most of them will now replace freshman teams with junior varsity teams. Hence, no saving will be realized."

Norwich University and Bowdoin have been named to replace UNH and Colgate on the Dartmouth schedule. A second game with Boston College at Davis Rink on February 21 replaces the game at Army.