We’re down the the final 12 games of the Atlantic Hockey season, and there’s still much to be decided. One bye in each scheduling pod is locked up, but the other two are up for grabs.
Here’s the lowdown:
RIT – The Tigers have clinched first place and a first-round bye. They’ll host the lowest remaining seed in the quarterfinals March 11-13.
Robert Morris – The Colonials play at Air Force this weekend. Take two points and the other West pod bye is theirs. RMU has clinched a home playoff game in the event it doesn’t earn the bye.
Holy Cross – The Crusaders have clinched a first round bye and could finish as high as second place overall in the standings.
Air Force – The Falcons need three points against Robert Morris or they’ll have to console themselves with a home playoff game.
Niagara – The Purple Eagles a locked in to a home ice first-round playoff game.
Mercyhurst – The Lakers will be on the road in the first round of the playoffs, going to either Niagara, Robert Morris or Air Force.
Connecticut – The Huskies need three points this weekend against American International to sew up the remaining east pod bye.
Canisius – See Mercyhurst
Bentley – The Falcons are still alive for a bye. They trail UConn by two points but hold the tiebreaker over the Huskies. They’ve clinched at least a home playoff game if they don’t get the bye.
Army – See Bentley, except Army holds the tiebreaker with Bentley but loses it to UConn.
American International and Sacred Heart – Both are going to be on the road in the first round of the playoffs, at either UConn, Bentley, or Army.
USCHO.com AHA Player of the Week:
Mark Dube , Army – The junior had five points, including a natural hat-trick on Friday to lead the Black Knights to their first sweep of the season.
Honorables:
Jason Fabian, Air Force – The rookie had four points including three goals to help the Falcons to a sweep at Mercyhurst.
Brett Gensler, Bentley – Another rookie with a four-point weekend, Gensler had a pair of goals and a pair of assists last weekend against UConn.
Shayne Stockton, Holy Cross – And yes, one more four point rookie weekend. Stockton had four assists as the Crusaders took three of four points from Sacred Heart,
Mike Hull, Army – Hull had a whopping six assists in a sweep of AIC.
Everett Sheen, Holy Cross – The senior had three goals last weekend. He has 98 career points to date.
Getting My Vote
My USCHO.com Men’s D-I Poll ballot this week:
1. North Dakota
2. Boston College
3. Yale
4. Merrimack
5. Union
6. Denver
7. Duluth
8. UNH
9, Notre Dame
10. Miami
11. Michigan
12. Notre Dame
13. Wsconsin
14. UNO
15. RPI
16. Boston University
17. Western Michigan
18. Minnesota
19. Cornell
20. Princeton
