Updated Rankings

Yesterday, USCHO came out with their latest edition of Division III hockey rankings. Although I really don't pay too much attention to this poll early in the season, I cannot help but look at it and see where teams rank early in the season. With this being the only real "poll" for D-III hockey until the NCAA polls come out in February, it makes me wish the posters on the D-III board of USCHO had a weekly "Poster Poll". If that could be organized, I think it would be an interesting poll, which would be another way of breaking down the top hockey teams in the country. I mean college football has a coaches poll and media poll...why can't D-III Hockey have a coaches/media poll and hockey posters poll.

Team (First Place Votes) Record Points Last Poll

1 Middlebury (13) 0-0-0 284 1
2 Manhattanville ( 4) 4-0-1 273 2
3 Wis.-River Falls ( 1) 4-0-1 247 3
4 Plattsburgh ( 1) 7-0-0 240 5
5 Wis.-Stout ( 1) 7-0-0 222 6
6 Norwich 0-0-0 207 4
7 St. Norbert 4-1-0 180 7
8 Elmira 3-0-1 144 8
9 Hobart 6-0-0 137 12
10 Oswego 3-2-1 114 9
11 Babson 0-0-0 89 11
12 St. Thomas 3-1-0 58 10
13 Bethel 4-0-0 54 15
14 Bowdoin 0-0-0 46 13
15 Mass.-Dartmouth 1-0-0 40 14

Others Receiving Votes: Milw School of Eng 18, New England College 7, Castleton 6, Neumann 6, Wis.-Stevens Point 6, Gustavus Adolphus 5, Wis.-Superior 3, Curry 2, Finlandia 2, St. Olaf 2

Looking at this week's poll in-depth, I am surprised at some of the west's rankings. For starters, I was surprised to see River Falls ranked higher after their performance last weekend against two MIAC teams. Also, I wonder how MSOE got into the rankings mix...period. I mean sure they may be 5-1 to start off the young season, but last time I checked, teams like Lake Forest, Lawrence and UM-Crookston are not considered to be "real competition". I will admit that if they do hang around in the polls next week, I will be very surprised to see if they are ranked after they play UW-Superior on November 25th. Lastly, although I don't know a lot about what is going on out east, I will say that it was surprising to see Oswego State fall in the rankings, despite two road wins against Geneseo and Brockport.

Finally, it seems early to be thinking about the NCAA Tournament, but looking at the polls early in the year always has me thinking about what the seeding would be like if the NCAA Playoffs started today. I know this is crazy to even picture the NCAA's right now, as the current rankings will change a lot throughout the season, and teams will emerge from the woodwork as clear cut contenders, however inquisitive minds like mine always enjoy drawing up these scenarios week from week.

As for now, I don't have any clear-cut predictions for the NCAA's yet, as its way too early to determine which twelve teams will get in. I will say that in a few weeks time, I'm hoping to feature on my blog a weekly NCAA prediction of which twelve teams that will make the D-III Frozen Four field in 2008.