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CIS Men’s Hockey Top 10 (#15): No. 1 UNB begins playoff run
OTTAWA (CIS) – The reigning University Cup champion New
Brunswick Varsity Reds top the CIS men’s hockey rankings for
the 15th time in as many media polls this year.
The Varsity Reds, who were a unanimous choice at No. 1 for the 14th
straight week thanks to 18 first-place votes, enjoyed a bye in the
first round of the AUS playoffs last week following a
record-setting 27-1-0 regular season that saw them set a new CIS
standard for most wins in a campaign and tie the all-time mark for
most points (54).
The V-Reds begin their post-season run this week against the St.
Francis Xavier X-Men (11-12-5 / 2-0 playoffs), the team that edged
the defending champions 4-3 on Feb. 12 to put an end to their dream
of an unblemished regular schedule. Games 1 and 2 of the
best-of-five AUS semifinal series are set for Thursday and Friday
in Fredericton, with Game 3 scheduled for Tuesday, March 2 in
Antigonish, N.S.
StFX swept UPEI in two games last week in the AUS quarter-final
round.
Following UNB in the new national media poll are No. 2 Alberta
(23-4-1), No. 3 UQTR (23-3-2 / 2-0 playoffs), No. 4 Acadia
(19-7-2), No. 5 McGill (22-6-0 / 2-0), No. 6 Western Ontario
(21-7-0 / 2-1), No. 7 Lakehead (19-7-2 / 2-1), No. 8 Saint
Mary’s (16-8-4 / 2-0), No. 9 Saskatchewan (15-7-4) and No. 10
Manitoba (14-10-2).
Alberta, UQTR and Acadia all hold on to their previous positions.
McGill and Western switch places. Lakehead is up one spot from a
week ago, while Saint Mary’s is up two and Manitoba is down
one. Saskatchewan was unranked last week.
Ranked second in the nation behind UNB for the 15th time in 15
weeks, Alberta closed out the regular season with a pair of 5-4
victories over Regina (9-15-2), the second one coming in overtime.
The Golden Bears, who have long clinched first place in the Canada
West standings, enjoy a bye this week as conference play concludes
in the CWUAA.
UQTR stays put at No. 3 for the fourth straight week. The Patriotes
needed three games to eliminate Concordia (8-16-4 / 1-2) in a
best-of-three OUA East quarter-final, winning the opener 6-2,
dropping the second contest 2-1 and taking the decisive duel 4-2.
They begin a best-of-three OUA East semifinal against Ryerson
(12-13-3 / 2-0) on Thursday.
Acadia remains at No. 4 for the ninth consecutive week. The Axemen,
who enjoyed a bye last week after finishing second in the Atlantic
conference standings, host No. 10 Saint Mary’s Wednesday
night for Game 1 of their best-of-five AUS semifinal. Game 2 is set
for Friday, also in Wolfville, N.S.
McGill made quick work of first-year Nipissing in its opening round
series, outscoring the Lakers 4-1 and 7-2. The Redmen host Carleton
(15-10-3 / 2-1) Wednesday for Game 1 of a best-of-three OUA East
semifinal.
Western Ontario got a scare in the first round of the OUA West
playoffs dropping a 2-1 decision to UOIT (11-15-2 / 1-2) in the
series opener. The Mustangs rebounded with 4-2 and 5-1 wins to
advance to a best-of-three OUA West semifinal where they’ll
face Windsor (10-13-5 / 2-1) starting Wednesday.
Lakehead also dropped its post-season opener, 3-2 in double
overtime to York (12-13-3 / 1-2), before rebounding with 9-5 and
6-2 victories. The Thunderwolves, who will host the University Cup
national championship in Thunder Bay from March 25 to 28, visit
Guelph (14-10-4 / 2-1) Wednesday for Game 1 of a best-of-three OUA
West semifinal. Games 2 and 3 (if necessary) will be played in
Thunder Bay.
Saint Mary’s downed Moncton (19-16-3 / 0-2) 2-1 in double
overtime and 4-2 in the first round of the AUS playoffs. The
Huskies are now set to battle No. 4 Acadia starting Wednesday.
With Saskatchewan and Manitoba entering the last weekend in a tie
for second place in Canada West with 30 points apiece, the Huskies
swept a two-game set against the Bisons, 4-1 and 4-1, to move into
sole possession of second position.
Saskatchewan, which needs one more win to clinch second place, ends
conference play this weekend with a pair of contests at Lethbridge
(12-11-3). Manitoba wraps up the regular season with two home tilts
against Regina.
NOTE: Ranked seventh in the nation a week ago, Waterloo is the only
Top-10 team that didn’t survive the first round of the
playoffs. The Warriors were eliminated in three games by Windsor in
a best-of-three OUA West quarter-final.
CIS MEN’S
HOCKEY TOP 10 (#15)
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) / (last
week)
1. UNB (27-1-0) / 180 points (18) / (1)
2. Alberta (23-4-1) / 161 / (2)
3. UQTR (23-3-2 / 2-1 playoffs) / 133 / (3)
4. Acadia (19-6-3) / 124 / (4)
5. McGill (22-6-0 / 2-0 playoffs) / 106 / (6)
6. Western Ontario (21-7-0 / 2-1 playoffs) / 98 / (5)
7. Lakehead (19-7-2 / 2-1 playoffs) / 63 / (8)
8. Saint Mary’s (16-8-4 / 2-0 playoffs) / 51 / (10)
9. Saskatchewan (15-7-4) / 37 / (NR)
10. Manitoba (14-10-2) / 20 / (9)
Other teams receiving votes: Waterloo (6), Guelph (4), Ryerson (2),
Wilfrid Laurier (2), Windsor (2), Calgary (1).
-CIS-
