OTTAWA (CIS) – The game of musical chairs continues this
week in CIS men’s hockey. For the fourth time in as many
national polls released this season, a new team sits in the
driver’s seat.
The University of Saskatchewan Huskies (7-1-0) are the new team
to beat according to the 17-member media panel. The Huskies, who
occupied the second spot a week ago, received 15 first-place votes
and 159 points in the new poll to merit No. 1 status for the first
time since the 2005-06 campaign, when they topped 10 consecutive
rankings from early November to late January.
The UNB Varsity Reds, Alberta Golden Bears, and UNB again had
previously been ranked No. 1 this fall.
The remaining first-place nods this week went to the surprising
Toronto Varsity Blues (5-0-1), who make their first Top 10
appearance since 2003-04, in ninth place. The Blues were also
ranked ninth on March 16, 2004.
Rounding out the new Top 10 are the No. 2 Alberta Golden Bears
(5-3-0), up two positions; No. 3 Moncton Aigles Bleus (4-1-1), up
three; No. 4 UNB Varsity Reds (4-2-0), down three; No. 5 UQTR
Patriotes (5-2-0), down a pair; No. 6 Acadia Axemen (4-2-0), up
one; No. 7 StFX X-Men (4-2-0), down two; No. 8 Lakehead
Thunderwolves (5-2-1), the only team to stay put this week; and No.
10 Calgary Dinos (5-3-0), down one.
Saskatchewan, Alberta and Moncton all went 2-for-2 in the last
seven days.
The Huskies travelled to Vancouver and swept a two-game set
against UBC, 5-4 and 5-1. The Bears were also on the road this past
weekend and dominated Lethbridge 7-1 and 10-3. The Aigles Bleus
beat Saint Mary’s 7-2 and StFX 4-2 on home ice.
Meanwhile, UNB suffered its second loss of the young season on
Friday night, dropping a 4-2 decision at Acadia. The V-Reds
rebounded the next night with a 4-2 win at Dalhousie.
Top-10 battles to keep an eye on this weekend include No. 7 StFX at
No. 4 UNB on Friday, and No. 3 Moncton at No. 6 Acadia on
Saturday.
Top-ranked Saskatchewan enjoys a break in its Canada West
schedule this week.
CIS
MEN’S HOCKEY TOP 10 (#4)
Voting is based on a 10-9-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1 basis, with a 1st
place vote worth 10 points. The CIS Men’s Ice Hockey Top Ten
Committee is made up of media members from across Canada.
(regular season record) / votes (first-place votes) /
(previous rankings)
1. Saskatchewan (7-1-0) / 159 points (15) / (2)
2. Alberta (5-3-0) / 129 / (4)
3. Moncton (4-1-1) / 124 / (6)
4. UNB (4-2-0) / 121 / (1)
5. UQTR (5-2-0) / 102 / (3)
6. Acadia (4-2-0) / 90 / (7)
7. StFX (4-2-0) / 64 / (5)
8. Lakehead (5-2-1) / 50 / (8)
9. Toronto (5-0-1) / 48 (2) / (NR)
10. Calgary (5-3-0) / 30 / (9)
-CIS-
