Population Control

The Harvard men's hockey team's real losses aren't listed in the conference standings. The 4-4-1 Crimson has actually suffered five losses--five players removed from the ice since the start of the season.

The latest to become a face in the crowd is senior wing Phil Falcone, the team's leading scorer with 10 points (six goals, four assists). It happened on one of the last shifts of Harvard's final game in Czechoslovakia.

"I got kneed," Falcone recalls. "He was trying to hip check me. It's just a bruise. I think I'll be back after exams," he adds.

His knee will be X-rayed today.

Tony Visone underwent arthroscopic surgery on his knee yesterday. The senior forward may be back before exam period.

Jay North will have the cast removed from his hand next week.

Senior forward Bob Starbuck, tied with Dave Connors as Harvard assist leader, has left the team. Freshman center Allen Bourbeau has been on disciplinary probation since the start of the season.

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A rule interpretation debate precipitated the five-minute break in the action 7:05 into the final period last night. Referee Jim Quinn called the interference penalty on Eagle John McNamara before the scramble in front of the net that led to Tim Barakett's penalty shot. The question: Did the penalty shot erase the penalty? Harvard Coach Bill Cleary produced a rule book to prove that it didn't.

Cleary knows the rule book pretty well. After all, he's been a member of the NCAA rules committee for several years and edited the book himself.