Hockey East Power Rankings – 10/19/09

By Chris Aliano

1. Vermont (2-1-0, 1-0-0 HE) – The Catamounts trounced Boston College Sunday at home 4-1. They excelled on the PK, going 8-for-8, while goalkeeper Rob Madore made 22 saves. Rookie of the Week Chris McMcarthy and Jack Downing each had two points in the win. Head coach Kevin Sneddon said his squad would have a “scoring by committee” kind of offense this season after losing much of last year’s production to graduation and to the pros. That appeared to be the case Sunday, and should be the case all season long. They visit Merrimack Friday night.


2. BU (0-1-0, 0-1-0 HE) – Not an impressive effort for the Terriers on Friday night in Amerst. Granted, the Terriers often struggle at the Mullins Center, but head coach Jack Parker remarked on the unusually poor performances by his upperclassmen. Freshman Alex Chiasson was the lone bright spot, netting two goals in his collegiate debut. Netminder Kieran Millan lost for the first time in his college career away from Agganis Arena. The going doesn’t get any easier this week: #9 Notre Dame and #5 Michigan come to town.



3. UMass-Lowell (1-1-0, 0-0-0 HE) – They opened the season with a win and a loss in the Ice Breaker Invitational, falling to upstart Nebraska-Omaha in the championship game. They were idle last weekend, but open conference play Saturday night at home against Northeastern. On Friday they host Colgate in a nonconference tilt.

4. UMass (2-0-0, 1-0-0 HE) – It seems like the Minutemen do this every year: topple a highly ranked foe in a big early season game before sputtering for a month and falling out of the national picture. This year, things could be different. It wasn’t always pretty against BU, but UMass looked dominant at times against the defending champs. When their offense clicks, especially that top line with Casey Wellman and James Marcou, this team will be dangerous. Paul Dainton is the X-factor. The Minutemen host Maine Friday night.

5. BC (0-1-0, 0-1-0 HE) – Certainly not the start Jerry York’s squad was hoping for, and equally as unimpressive as their Comm. Ave rivals’ season-opener. The Catamounts made quick work of goalkeeper John Muse, who underwent offseason hip surgery similar to the kind Red Sox third baseman Mike Lowell underwent in 2008. The Eagles take on Notre Dame in South Bend Friday night, hours before the two schools’ football squads battle each other. Talk about rivalry weekend.

6. UNH (0-2-1, 0-0-0 HE) – It was not the weekend they were hoping for, but the Wildcats can feel good with at least tying the top-ranked Miami Redhawks in the opening weekend of the CCHA/HEA Challenge. They’d be wise to forget about the 6-3 loss they suffered the night before, though. The Wildcats open conference play with contests against Northeastern and Maine in Durham on Friday and Saturday night, respectively.

7. Northeastern (2-1-0, 0-0-0 HE) – They looked awful and okay the weekend before at Colorado College, and they sweated out a 3-2 victory against lowly Bentley. No one should be sold on the Huskies yet, especially freshman goalie Chris Rawlings.

8. Maine (1-3-0, 0-0-0 HE) – A decent homecoming weekend in Orono for the Black Bears, splitting a pair of games with unranked Michigan State. Sophomore forward Gustav Nyquist scored the game-winner with 1:39 to play in the third period to clinch the 5-3 victory Saturday night. Maine opens up Hockey East play with a pair of league games at UMass Friday night and at UNH Saturday.

9. Providence (2-1-0, 0-0-0 HE) – What to make of the Friars? While their 3-2 upset victory of Notre Dame was a pleasant surprise, it’s still a young season and there are plenty of questions still surrounding this young squad. Sophomore goalkeeper Alex Beaudry shined, making 59 saves and posting a .937 save percentage on the weekend for Providence. They head to Bowling Green for a doubleheader Friday and Saturday.

10. Merrimack (2-2-0, 0-0-0 HE) – The Warriors’ freshman forward Stephane Da Costa did something no Merrimack player has done in the 21 years they have been in the league: score five goals. Da Costa earned Hockey East Player of the Week honors by lighting lamp five times in a 6-3 drubbing of Army on Saturday night. The Warriors downed Holy Cross 3-1 Friday night to rebound from an 0-2 start. They host Vermont Friday night before welcoming Atlantic Hockey foe UConn Sunday afternoon.