The Oswego State men’s ice hockey team continues its unbeaten streak since the beginning of the new year and again holds the No. 2 ranking in the newest USCHO.com Men’s Ice Hockey Poll released on Monday. The Lakers garnered one first place vote and 278 total votes after defeating SUNY Geneseo on Friday and The College at Brockport on Saturday to remain atop the SUNYAC standings with a 9-0-2 conference record. Oswego State is 16-2-2 overall and is one of only two teams in Division III to have eclipsed the 16-win threshold. The Lakers have won six straight games and play their final road game of the regular season on Saturday against a depleted Morrisville State College that is playing for pride as the season winds down. The two teams tied 3-3 earlier in the season at the Campus Center Ice Arena.
The No. 1 team in Division III continues to be Norwich University of the ECAC East. The Cadets have held the No. 1 ranking since Nov. 14 after being ranked third in the first poll of the season that was released on Oct. 10. Norwich defeated Southern Maine, 5-1, on Friday and shut out the University of New England, 6-0, on Saturday. The Cadets own a 16-1-1 overall record and leads the ECAC East at 11-1-0. Norwich has a four-game road trip that concludes with fourth-ranked Castleton. SUNY Plattsburgh moved its unbeaten streak to 12 games after defeating SUNY Potsdam, 4-3, on Friday night. The Cardinals sit three points behind Oswego State for the SUNYAC lead. Castleton College comes in at No. 4, shutting out St. Anselm before playing New England College to a 4-4 tie. Amherst jumped up two spots to No. 5, pitching back-to-back shutouts on the road in conference play.
St. Norbert dropped out of the top five and sit at No. 6 this week. St. Norbert lost in overtime to Wisconsin-River Falls, but regrouped to beat Wisconsin-Eau Claire. St. Thomas jumped up two spots, sweeping St. Olaf in a home-and-home series. Wisconsin-River Falls remained at No. 8 and Utica College climbed back into the top 10, moving up two spots to No. 9. The Pioneers swept Hobart over the weekend. Adrian had the toughest week, falling four spots to No. 10. The Bulldogs tied Milwaukee School of Engineering on Friday, but were blown out the following night, 6-1. With the loss, Milwaukee School of Engineering is just one game behind Adrian for the MCHA lead. Adrian will share the No. 10 spot with Elmira College.
Milwaukee School of Engineering moved up two spots to No. 12 after its strong showing against Adrian. St. Scholastica moved up a spot to No. 13 after defeating Wisconsin-Stout on the road on Saturday night. Williams fell two spots to No. 14, losing to Tufts in overtime on Friday and playing Connecticut College to a 3-3 tie. Bowdoin College broke into the top 15 at No. 15 and Neumann College dropped out of the rankings.
Other teams receiving votes are Neumann, Gustavus Adolphus, Wisconsin-Stevens Point, Manhattanville, Wisconsin-Eau Claire, Curry and Wentworth.
USCHO.com Men’s Poll 1/30/12
1. Norwich (19)
2. Oswego State (1)
3. Plattsburgh
4. Castleton
5. Amherst
6. St. Norbert
7. St. Thomas
8. Wisconsin-River Falls
9. Utica
10. Adrian
10. Elmira
12. Milwaukee School of Engineering
13. St. Scholastica
14. Williams
15. Bowdoin
