The New England Hockey Journal Division 1 Top 10 returns for the start of the new calendar year after the first slate of college action since Christmas took place over the last four days.
The weekend saw Northeastern and host Vermont sweep the Catamount Cup, Providence capture two wins at the Ledyard Bank Classic, and American International return to Atlantic Hockey play with a series spit to remain with a single point of first place in the league standings. In addition, the Friars’ Nate Leaman and Quinnipiac’s Rand Pecknold both picked up milestone coaching victories with their 300th and 500th, respectively.
Nothing has changed as far as the 10 teams ranked, though a growing slate of league games in Hockey East, ECAC Hockey, and Atlantic Hockey over the next two weekends could certainly change that soon.
TOP 10
1. Massachusetts
Record: 14-2 (7-0 Hockey East) / Last week: 1
With only one loss since Oct. 20, the Minutemen resume action this weekend for the first time since their Dec. 11 win over Yale. UMass hosts Hockey East foe UMass Lowell before making the short trip for a non-conference game at American International.
2. Providence
Record: 9-4-3 (6-2-1 Hockey East) / Last week: 2
For the first time in five Ledyard Bank Classic appearances, the Friars emerged victorious after defeating city rival Brown, 3-1, and tournament host Dartmouth, 5-3, in Hanover, N.H. Five different Providence skaters registered three points each, including senior Scott Conway who scored twice against the Big Green after tallying the game-winner with 9:40 left the day before. Hayden Hawkey stopped 43 of the 47 shots he faced during the tournament, earning top goaltending honors.
3. Quinnipiac
Record: 15-3 (6-2 ECAC Hockey) / Last week: 3
The Bobcats resumed play with a 6-0 win over Colgate in Saturday non-conference play in Uniondale, N.Y. Sophomore Andrew Shortridge made 19 saves in QU’s seventh team shutout of the season, which also marked the 500th win of Rand Pecknold’s head coaching career. Senior defenseman Chase Priskie reached the career 100-point mark with two assists, while Salisbury product Peter DiLiberatore was one of two Quinnipiac rookies to score his first collegiate goal.
4. Northeastern
Record: 12-3-1 (6-1-1 Hockey East) / Last week: 4
The Huskies matched Catamount Cup host Vermont with two wins on the weekend in Burlington, defeating Rensselaer and Alabama Huntsville to extend their nation-long winning streak to eight games. Five different players scored goals over the 3-2 (OT) and 2-0 wins, including sophomore Zach Solow who completed a two-point night with the winner against RPI. Senior Ryan Ruck took the net with sophomore Cayden Primeau playing for Team USA at the World Junior Championship for both games and made 13 saves to shut out UAH.
5. Boston College
Record: 6-6-2 (6-1-2 Hockey East) / Last week: 5
The Eagles were shut out for the first time since their 0-5 start to the season in last night’s 4-0 loss at Notre Dame, their 23rd straight defeat in non-conference play. Junior Joseph Woll made 25 saves. Junior defenseman Luke McInnis (Hingham, Mass.) led BC with four shots on goal.
6. Boston University
Record: 6-8-2 (5-5-2 Hockey East) / Last week: 7
While freshman Joel Farabee (USA) and sophomores Shane Bowers (Canada) and Logan Cockerill (USA) skate at World Juniors, the Terriers won’t resume action until Jan. 8 at Harvard. No college team has more NCAA representation than BU.
7. Yale
Record: 7-3-2 (6-2-1 ECAC Hockey) / Last week: 6
The Bulldogs lost their second straight after a five-game winning streak, suffering a 3-1 setback to UConn on New Year’s Eve. Senior defenseman Anthony Walsh scored Yale’s lone goal with one second remaining in the second period, while Sam Tucker (Wilton, Conn.) made 21 stops. The Elis were unable to solve UConn’s Adam Huska (39 saves) more than once before the visitors scored twice in the third period to earn the non-conference win.
8. UMass Lowell
Record: 8-8-1 (4-4-1 Hockey East) / Last week: 8
The River Hawks made their second-semester debut on Saturday night and dropped a 4-1 decision to Denver. Freshman defenseman Seth Barton scored his second collegiate goal in the third period, while junior Ryan Lohin recorded an assist for his 12th point in nine games. Lowell held a 21-17 shot advantage in the game, but junior Tyler Wall’s 13 saves were not enough.
9. Harvard
Record: 5-4-2 (2-3-2 ECAC Hockey) / Last week: 9
The Crimson scored four straight goals and cruised to a 5-1 win over Concordia in a Sunday exhibition game to unofficially begin the second half. Five different Harvard skaters scored goals, including sophomore Henry Bowlby and freshman Baker Shore on the power play, while junior Adam Fox and freshman Casey Dornbach posted two assists apiece.
10. American International
Record: 8-8-1 (8-5-1 Atlantic Hockey) / Last week: 10
The Yellow Jackets split their final series of the calendar year against Robert Morris at MassMutual Center, winning their fifth consecutive game before suffering a 3-1 defeat. In Saturday’s 4-3 win, junior Hugo Reinhardt logged an assist and then scored the deciding goal with 3:57 left in regulation. Classmate Blake Christensen assisted on three of AIC’s four goals during the series.
PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
Scott Conway
Providence / Sr. / F / Basingstoke, England
Conway scored three goals as the Friars returned to action with wins over Brown and host Dartmouth during the Ledyard Bank Classic, extending his four-game point streak over which he has posted a 4-2-6 line. His two goals against the Big Green came after a deciding goal against Brown.
Adam Huska
Connecticut / Jr. / G / Zvolen, Slovakia
Huska snapped a personal five-game losing streak (dating back to Nov. 9) and the team’s seven-game skid overall with 39 saves in a New Year’s Eve win at Yale. He made 11 in the first period, 16 in the second, and 12 in the third to match his career-high for a single game.
