The BCS has nothing on D-III hockey. For the fourth time in six polls, there is a new king in college hockey. Actually two: it’s a dual monarchy.
Each tallying 283 points, Elmira and Plattsburgh are the new number ones in Division III hockey. 7-0-1 and 11-1-0, respectively, the Eagles did receive nine first place votes to the Cardinals’ eight.
Previous number five St. Norbert (two first place votes) and former top dog Wisconsin-River Falls (one vote) were third and fourth in the latest poll. Buoyed by its impressive 10-1-1 mark, neighboring state school UW-Stout jumped up three spots to number five nationally.
After splitting contests with new co-number one Elmira (loss) and formerly second-ranked Hobart (win), Manhattanville remained at sixth. Little talked about St. Thomas — resounding 5-0 winners over then-top ranked UW-River Falls — rocketed up three spots to seventh while still undefeated Babson (6-0-1) walloped Trinity and Wesleyan by a combined margin of 12-1 to move up a rung to eighth.
Hobart precipitously dropped seven spots to ninth after losing to Manhattanvile (3-1) and Utica (3-2) while Southern Maine rode its upset of then-seventh ranked Middlebury (and a 4-4 deadlock with Williams) to an improved standing of tenth in the country.
The Norwich Cadets remain at eleven while Bowdoin continues to flex its offensive muscle (4-1 and 10-5 victories) in rising two spots to No. 12. The second roughest week — behind Hobart — belongs unceremoniously to Middlebury, who despite topping Salem State before losing to then-No. 14 Southern Maine, dropped six spots in the poll.
Defending champion Oswego and poll newcomer New England College (4-0-1) — 9-1, 4-3, and 3-1 winners this past week — each received 41 points to tie for No. 14. After being crushed by then-fifth ranked St. Norbert, 6-2, last week’s No. 13 UW-Superior dropped out of the poll.
