ECAC Hockey Report, Week of 1997 October 20

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Recent Action

(scores are linked to box scores and recaps on US College Hockey Online, which is not affiliated with The Big Red What? or Joe Schlobotnik)

The RPI Engineers had a rude awakening this Saturday, as the ECAC's preseason favorites fell 6-0 to Boston University in non-conference action. Rensselaer's starting goaltender Joel Laing gave up five goals on 25 shots in two periods. His replacement, sophomore classmate Scott Prekaski, saved 12 of the 13 shots he faced in the third, although Tom Poti did tally a 3-on-5 shorthanded goal. On the other hand, Colgate did the ECAC proud, splitting a weekend series at national #5 and back-to-back CCHA champion Michigan. The Red Raiders pulled off the 2-1 upset Friday, but fell 6-4 Saturday night. That was still the league's best performance Saturday, with Vermont suffering a 5-1 loss at the hands of Hockey East neighbors New Hampshire.

Standings

While we wait for ECAC play to start for another year, let's reflect again on last season's results. This time, we'll look at both the final regular season standings and each team's fate in the ECAC postseason.

                     1996-97 Results         1997 Playoff Exit
                   W- L-T   PF-PA   Pct    Round  Opponent Score
 1  Clarkson      17- 5-0   34-10  .773    Final  Cornell   2-1
 2  Cornell       14- 6-2   30-14  .682     * ECAC Champions *
 3  Vermont       13- 6-3   29-15  .659    Qtfnl  Princtn   3-2 1-7 3-2
 4  RPI           12- 7-3   27-17  .614    Semis  Cornell   5-3
 5  Union         11- 8-3   25-19  .568    Qtfnl  RPI       3-1 3-1
    Princeton     11- 8-3   25-19  .568    Semis  Clarksn   5-1
 7  Colgate       10- 9-3   23-21  .523    Prelm  Yale      1-0
 8  Harvard        9-11-2   20-24  .455    Qtfnl  Cornell   2-2 4-1
 9  St Lawrence    5-12-5   15-29  .341    Prelm  Harvard   4-2
10  Yale           6-14-2   14-30  .318    Qtfnl  Clarksn   5-2 4-1
11  Dartmouth      5-15-2   12-32  .273     % Did not qualify %
12  Brown          4-16-2   10-34  .227     % Did not qualify %

The National Scene

As expected, Rensselaer have forfeited their #10 ranking in the US College Hockey Online Poll by virtue of their loss to the Terriers. But the ECAC still keeps a representative in the top ten, with Cornell taking over the 10 spot. And the also-rans category includes Colgate, RPI and Clarkson.

Upcoming Games

More ECAC teams join the nonconference fray this week, and there's even one tournament entry, with St. Lawrence competing in the JC P*nn*y Classic. The Saints will take on Colorado College in the first round and play either Maine or the Canadian school St. Thomas on Saturday. Clarkson visit Bowling Green for a pair this weekend, while Saturday's action sees Colgate at former ECAC school Army, and a trio of ECAC-Hockey East matchups, with Union visiting Providence, RPI hosting Mass-Lowell and Vermont entertaining BU. A few Ivy schools also start exhibition play this weekend, with Princeton playing host to Division III Elmira Friday, Cornell welcoming Ryerson Tech from north of the border Saturday, and Brown and Yale facing off Sunday afternoon in New York City.

Last Modified: 2011 October 9

Joe Schlobotnik / joe@amurgsval.org