Red-hot Redmen ranked No. 1 for first time in four years
OTTAWA (CIS) – The red-hot McGill University Redmen are the new team to beat in CIS men’s hockey, reaching the top of the weekly national rankings for the first time in nearly four years.
OTTAWA (CIS) – The red-hot McGill University Redmen are the new team to beat in CIS men's hockey, reaching the top of the weekly national rankings for the first time in nearly four years.
Currently riding an eight-game winning streak, the Redmen (11-1-0) move up two positions in the sixth media poll of the season after receiving 10 first-place votes and 145 points from the 16-member panel. McGill was last ranked number one midway through the 2011-12 campaign, when they topped back-to-back polls in January (Jan. 24, Jan. 31).
Three other teams received No. 1 consideration this week, including the second-ranked UNB Varsity Reds (8-1-2 / 138 points / down one position), who merited three first-place nods, the No. 3 Saskatchewan Huskies (10-2-0 / 128 / down one), who earned a pair, as well as the No. 4 and reigning University Cup champion Alberta Golden Bears (8-3-1 / 116 / no change), who received one.
Rounding out the new Top 10 are the No. 5 Acadia Axemen (8-2-1 / 92 / up one), No. 6 St. Francis Xavier X-Men (8-1-2 / 82 / up one), No. 7 UQTR Patriotes (9-2-1 / 68 / down two), No. 8 Western Mustangs (9-2-0 / 55 / no change), No. 9 UBC Thunderbirds (7-2-3 / 33 / no change) and previously unranked York Lions (7-1-3 / 11).
McGill, whose lone loss this season was a 3-2 setback on home ice against Nipissing on Oct. 17, defeated visiting Laurier 4-0 and Waterloo 5-2 this past weekend to build a three-point cushion over UQTR atop the OUA East standings. The Redmen put their perfect 5-0 road record on the line this week when they visit Brock (5-4-3) and No. 10 York.
Meanwhile, in the AUS conference, UNB suffered a rare two-game sweep last weekend, losing on the road to No. 5 Acadia, 4-3 in overtime, and Saint Mary's, 4-2.
In Canada West, Saskatchewan beat UBC 4-1 last Friday before dropping only its second league game of the season in Saturday's rematch, a 4-3 loss. For its part, Alberta swept provincial rival Calgary 6-1 and 1-0 in OT to move to within three points of the Huskies in the conference standings.
In addition to the McGill-York duel on Saturday, three Top-10 confrontations highlight this weekend's schedule, including UNB at StFX on Friday (7 p.m. AST on AUStv.ca) and Alberta visiting UBC for a Friday-Saturday doubleheader in Vancouver (7 p.m. PST on CanadaWest.TV).
CIS MEN'S HOCKEY TOP 10 (#6)
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 ranking)
1. McGill (11-1-0) / 145 points (10) / (3)
2. UNB (8-1-2) / 138 (3) / (1)
3. Saskatchewan (10-2-0) / 128 (2) / (2)
4. Alberta (8-3-1) / 116 (1) / (4)
5. Acadia (8-2-1) / 92 / (6)
6. StFX (8-1-2) / 82 / (7)
7. UQTR (9-2-1) / 68 / (5)
8. Western (9-2-0) / 55 / (8)
9. UBC (7-2-3) / 33 / (9)
10. York (7-1-3) / 11 / (NR)
Other teams receiving votes: Moncton (6), Saint Mary's (3), Lethbridge (2), Manitoba (1).
