Sunday School Wrap

The Colorado College Tigers surged to the top of the pack last weekend, overtaking Boston College as the #1 ranked NCAA hockey team. The Tigers didn't win in 2 outings this weekend, but I don't think they should lose their top spot, as they didn't lose either. While the Tigers have to be disappointed with a pair of sister kissers against Clarkson, Chad Rau (Toronto, 7th Round, 2005) continued his scoring streak. The Hobey Baker candidate has 5 goals and 5 assists and hasn't been held off the scoresheet in any of 6 CC games thus far. Goaltender Richard Bachman (Dallas, 4th round, 2006-pictured right) is the main reason the Tigers came away with a tie on Saturday night, as Clarkson fired 44 shots on net, and only beat Bachman twice. While I don't think CC should lose their top ranking, the Golden Knights could move up from the 19 spot they occupied before the weekend began.

Sticking in the state of Colorado, the Denver Pioneers weren't as lucky as their state rivals. While Denver did defeat Ohio State 3-1 on Friday night, thanks to a pair of goals from sophomore Kyle Ostrow, they weren't so lucky Saturday evening. The Buckeyes, who weren't even considered for the top 20 last week, shocked the Pioneers 4-3 in Denver. Denver's Joe Colborne (Boston, 1st round, 2008-pictured left) faced a familiar foe in Zac Dalpe (Carolina, 2nd round, 2008) of Ohio State. The two battled for the Doyle Cup last year as Colborne's Camrose Kodiaks knocked out Dalpe's Penticton Vee's and advanced to the Canadian Junior A National Championship. Saturday night, Dalpe got some revenge, even though both players scored, Dalpe's Ohio State Buckeyes knocked off a National championship contender, and may have inched their way closer to the top 20, while the Pioneers might fall out of the number 2 spot.

3rd Ranked Boston College played only once, nipping Vermont 3-2, but 4th ranked New Hampshire struggled against UMASS and St. Lawrence. James Van Riemsdyk (Philadelphia, 1st round, 2007-pictured right) scored a shorthanded goal to salvage a tie with Massachusetts for the Wildcats Friday night. It would have been a loss for New Hampshire if the Minutemen could have capitalized more on their 39 shots, including peppering Wildcat tender Brian Foster (Florida, 5th round, 2005) with 17 in the first period. However Foster and the rest of his Wildcat teammates failed to show up Saturday as St. Lawrence became the first team to score more than 2 goals against UNH. Undrafted senior Zach Miskovic scored a pair for the Saints who have now won 3 straight and could also get consideration for the nations top 20.

Boston University served notice that they won't sleep walk through the first half of the season, like they did last year. The Terriers who were winless in 5 games a year ago, are now 4-1 early this season.They reached the mark Saturday night with an exclamation point, smoking Michigan 7-2 thanks to 5 power play markers. Undrafted senior Jason Lawrence scored twice, and his 4 goals are halfway to his total from last year already. Colin Wilson (Nashville, 1st round, 2008-pictured left) has 6 points in 5 games and the Terriers should at the very least switch spots with Michigan as BU was slotted just behind the 5th ranked Wolverines before the weekend.

Another top 10 team also felt the sting of an lower ranked opponent. #10 Miami shut out #8 Notre Dame thanks to 29 saves from freshman netminder Cody Reichard. That was Friday night, as for Saturday, the Fighting Irish were beaten up again by the Redhawks. Miami outshot Notre Dame 15-2 in the second period and thanks to goals from Justin Mercier (Colorado, 6th round, 2005) and Alexandre Lacombe (undrafted senior)outscored ND 3-2 to sweep the weekend series. Like BU and Michigan above, expect a swap in the national rankings.

Elsewhere #7 Minnesota avenged a 2-2 tie with unranked Wisconsin from Friday night with a solid 5-2 victory on Saturday, and Michigan state also played to a 2 all tie Friday against Northern Michigan before rebounding with a 2-0 shut out on Saturday.