Even though they do not take the ice until Nov. 16, Middlebury is the new number one team in the USCHO.com Division III men’s hockey poll. Earning half of the 20 first place votes, Middlebury doubled up Manhattanville — five first place votes — who are unbeaten (3-0-1) in their first four games.
Wisconsin-River Falls is 3-0 and ranked third, up from sixth, while Norwich rose to fourth.
The biggest ascension came by fifth ranked Plattsburgh, whose 5-0 start — including a win over defending champion and previously top ranked Oswego — impressed the voters enough to garner two first place votes and a nine spot rise from their previous No. 14 ranking.
Wisconsin-Stout, St. Norbert, Elmira, Oswego, and St. Thomas round out the top ten. St. Norbert received the remaining first place vote.
Babson, previously eighth, and Hobart — 4-0 and previously unranked — are now Nos. 11 and 12 while idle Bodwoin and Mass-Dartmouth fell two and four spots, respectively. Despite winning their first two games, Bethel remained at No. 15.
Neumann, who split their first six games, and UW-Superior (0-1-1), dropped out of the poll, after being ranked seventh and ninth in the inaugural edition.
