Cornell, Harvard, B.C., B.U. Grab Top Four ECAC Seeds

As a wild ECAC Division I hockey season comes to a close, the conference's selection committee is beginning to sort out the top eight teams that will compete in next week's championship tournament. The committee announced the top four seeds yesterday and, as expected, Harvard (12-3-1) got the number two spot behind Cornell (12-3-1).

The other teams that will receive home ice advantage are Boston College (12-5-1) in the number three seed, and Boston University (9-7-1), the defending champion at number four. B.U.'s mediocre-looking record came as a result of four Division I forfeits suffered when Cornell blew the whistle on freshman Dick DeCloe, who, though ineligible under ECAC rules, was playing for B.U. at the start of the season.

Contention

There are five teams in contention for the four through eight seeds, which will be decided after the season ends on Saturday. Penn (11-7-2) should get the fifth spot, followed by Brown (10-7-0), the University of New Hampshire (9-7-0), and either Clarkson (10-8-0) or RPI (10-9-0).

Brown faces a tough schedule this week which could have an effect on its seed. The Bruins play Harvard on Wednesday and Cornell on Saturday. Clarkson started the season strong but has lost momentum lately and this will hurt its position. Upcoming games with Cornell and UNH won't help any either.

RPI, which has a knack of grabbing the number eight seed, finishes its season with games against Middlebury and Colgate. If Clarkson can win its final two, however, it has a chance of overhauling RPI for the right to play Cornell in quarter battles.

Quarterfinals

The number one seed plays the number eight seed in the quarterfinals, two plays seven, three meets six, and four bat5leff it out with five for the opportunity to gain the semi-final round.

Harvard's seed almost guarantees a pass to the finals, as it only has to face the winners of the three-six game, probably B.C., in the semi's. B.U. and Cornell should also breeze through the opening round and will have to slug it out in the semifinal round in what will be a real grudge match for both teams.