The RIT Men's Hockey Team is positioned extremely well to win the Atlantic Hockey Association regular season title. They are currently alone in 1st place with 31 points and a 15-4-1 conference record. Air Force is one point behind with 30 points, however, RIT will play four more games than Air Force as the season winds down.
This is how the Tigers can clinch the 1st seed in the conference tournament and win the regular season title. RIT needs to win four of their eight remaining games; even with Air Force winning all four of their games, RIT beats them by a point. Barring a total self destruction they are going to win the AHA. They have Air Force coming into town in a couple weeks for a two night set, if RIT wins one of those games then you can chalk it up, it is over.
The Tigers are a true team, to say the least. Any player can contribute on any given night. Goalie Jared DeMichiel has played out of his mind for 99.9% of the season. The team has only given up 36 goals in conference play, with 4 less games mind you. Regardless, that number is 20 less than any other team pretty much. I believe he will be a 1st team all conference selection at goalie along with defenseman Dan Ringwald. Either one of them could win player of the year in the conference as well. Forward Cameron Burt has looked great recently and really is their best goal scorer. Burt is the only double digit goal scorer with 11 and Andrew Favot leads the team with 25 points on the season. They have eight players that have between five and seven goals on the year. That is an extremely balanced attack!
The Tigers look poised for the regular season conference title and they have also entered my top 25. In the poll on www.uscho.com they are at 25 but I have them slightly higher, as they have an overall record of 15-10-1. Miami is still in the top spot but everything is getting tight at the top. Any of these teams in the top 25 could beat another on any given night, a hot goalie and strong work ethic is the formula. Generally in hockey hard work and desire beat out talent.
COLLEGE HOCKEY TOP 25
1. Miami 18-4-6
2. Denver 16-6-4
3. Wisconsin 15-7-4
4. St. Cloud State 17-8-3
5. Minnesota-Duluth 17-10-1
6. Cornell 12-5-3
7. Ferris State 17-8-3
8. Michigan State 17-9-4
9. Boston College 14-8-2
10. Bemidji State 18-6-2
11. Colorado College 15-10-3
12. U-MASS Amherst 16-10-0
13. New Hampshire 13-8-4
14. North Dakota 13-10-5
15. Lake Superior 14-9-5
16. Yale 12-6-3
17. St. Lawrence 14-9-4
18. U-MASS Lowell 14-10-2
19. Union 13-7-6
20. Michigan 15-12-1
21. Maine 12-9-3
22. Vermont 12-9-3
23. RIT 15-10-1
24. Notre Dame 12-11-7
25. RPI 14-12-2
Week of February 1, 2010
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