It is a bit early to be doing Power Rankings, but in all reality the season has to start at some point and no better time than right now. Many teams have begun the season, including Clarkson and Colgate who have combined to play 7 games already. Both of those teams have looked good in the early going and all the other teams that began last weekend looked good as well, as the conference has gone 10-4-1 in early non-conference action. To preface, the preseason rankings are the ones that will be seen on the ECAC preview article when it is released on the site. It has changed a bit in my mind, already but I have tried to keep teams, mainly the Ivy’s, that haven’t played in their positions. It was tough mainly because the teams that have played, looked really good.

1. Yale (0-0-0, 0-0-0) – Preseason 2

Yale moves up a position without playing, mainly because of Rensselaer’s poor performance against Boston College. Yale opens its season in the Liberty Invitational (Formerly known as the Ivy Shootout) next weekend against Brown. The defending national champions will open its home slate against St. Lawrence on November 1.

2. Rensselaer (1-1-0, 0-0-0) – Preseason 1

I usually try to not gauge teams off of one performance, but Rensselaer’s performance against Boston College could be viewed as porous, mainly defensively. Despite carrying play for much of the game, the Engineers struggled to find the back of the net and in particular struggled to contain BC’s skilled forwards. Rensselaer should be better than they showed and they will have another opportunity this weekend, against Boston University, to prove they belong at the top of the power rankings.

3. Cornell (0-0-0, 0-0-0) – Preseason 3

Cornell will play its first game on October 25th against Colorado College.

4. Dartmouth (0-0-0, 0-0-0) – Preseason 4

The Big Green play in the Liberty Invitational next weekend against Princeton. No one behind them or above them proved to me they needed to move.

5. St. Lawrence (2-0-0, 0-0-0) – Preseason 10

St. Lawrence enters the top five of the Power Poll, with a weekend sweep of Maine. The Saints outscored the Black Bears by an aggregate 8-4 score over the weekend and Greg Carey was still the best player on the ice. The Saints travel to Ferris State for a pair for a chance, to further move up these rankings.

6. Clarkson (3-1-0, 0-0-0) – Preseason 12

If the beginning of the season is any indication, Clarkson could be better than we gave them credit for early in the season. The Golden Knights have four regular season games under their belt and have looked good in all four, losing only to UNH at the Ice Breaker. It has allowed just three goals in its three wins, and they have developed a strong goaltender tandem in Greg Lewis and Steve Perry. The offense also chipped in with six goals against Mercyhurst over the weekend. Clarkson will host their home opener on Friday against RIT and will against host the Tigers on Saturday.

7.  Quinnipiac (1-1-0, 0-0-0)  – Preseason 5

The Bobcats belong higher in these rankings and I will get a first hand look at them on Friday, as they travel to UMass-Lowell.  The Bobcats began its season in Alaska, first losing to Alaska-Anchorage by a 3-1 score and then picking up a win against Alaska-Fairbanks. The trip to Alaska is always a tough one and it will be interesting to see how they respond this weekend.

8. Harvard (0-0-0, 0-0-0)- Preseason 7

Harvard will open its season next weekend against Bentley. They will also open the conference schedule the Tuesday following that against Rensselaer.

9. Union (1-0-1, 0-0-0) – Preseason 6

Union may have left the weekend undefeated but they sustained significant injuries in the weekend series against Bowling Green. Of the four players that are listed as doubtful, starting goaltender Colin Stevens is the biggest name on the list. Losing Stevens may be tough, especially considering that Stevens was the replacement for Troy Grosenick. In the series, the Dutchmen looked great tying on Friday 3-3 and winning Saturday’s contest 5-2. Teams don’t normally lose four players after week 1 but the weekend came at a large price. Injuries are more the reason for the drop than anything else.

10. Colgate (2-1-0, 0-0-0) – Preseason 9

Colgate’s drop of a spot has nothing to do with itself, it has more to do with the teams that passed it by outplaying them. Both Clarkson and St. Lawrence have looked better in the early going, but other than the first game against Ferris State the Red Raiders have looked great on both sides of the puck. The 7-4 loss in the first game was an anomaly to the other two games, as Colgate has allowed the just one goal in its last two games. I said that if it could get defense, it could be a great team this season. It looks like they may be getting that so they might end up higher soon. Colgate travels to Bowling Green for a pair this weekend.

11. Brown (0-0-0, 0-0-0) – Preseason 8

Brown will be better than this when they actually play a game. They will begin their season against defending national champion, Yale, next Friday.

12. Princeton (0-0-0, 0-0-0) – Preseason 11

Princeton begins its season against Dartmouth next Friday.

Wednesday, October 16th, 2013 - 4:46 pm | ECAC, Notes, Thoughts, Ramblings