Huskies crack top five in Atlatic Hockey power rankings

For those of you who haven’t been glued to college hockey during break, here’s what the Atlantic Conference has shaped up to be in my mind while you were all out.

12. Sacred Heart (0-21-2, 0-15-2)
In seven games over the education break period, the Pioneers surrendered 43 goals, at a 6 goals allowed per game average.

11. American International (5-13-3, 2-10-3)
The Yellow Jackets came out victorious in one game over break with a 4-1 victory over division foe Robert Morris. American International will face UConn next, on Friday, Jan. 25th.

10. Army (7-12-3, 7-7-3)
Losers of four out of their last five games, the Black Knights have been inconsistent for the duration of the 2012-2013 season. Army was most recently swept in a two game set versus Atlantic Conference rival, the Rochester Institute of Technology.

9. Canisius (8-11-5, 7-6-2)
The Golden Griffins sported a 3-3-1 record over the break, dropping two consecutive games to division rival Bentley University, 3-2, and 7-2.

8. Rochester Institute of Technology (8-10-4, 6-6-3)
RIT are winners of three straight, and are 6-6-3 in conference play, with their last three wins all coming against conference opponents.

7. Air Force (9-9-5, 7-5-3)
Air Force most recently swept Atlantic Conference opponent Sacred Heart with wins of 5-2, and 6-3.

6. Robert Morris (12-7-2, 7-6-1)
The Colonials went 5-3 during the break with wins over UConn, Army, American International, and two during the Three Rivers Classic tournament in Pittsburgh, Pa.

5. Connecticut (9-10-2, 6-8-1)
UConn is 4-2 in their last six games, with a 5-4 win coming over division rival Mercyhurst on Jan. 18th. Huskies head coach Bruce Marshall resigned on Jan. 7th after being on a leave of absence since Nov. 6th, 2012. Assistant coach David Berard will step in as head coach for the remainder of the 2012-2013 season. Marshall was in his 25th season as head coach with 337 career wins on his belt. The 337 wins ranks 12th among active NCAA coaches in career wins.

4. Bentley (10-10-1, 8-6-1)
The Falcons went 4-2 over winter break, with wins over Northeastern, Canisius, and RIT. Bentley scored 10 goals in their two game sweep over division foe Canisius.

3. Mercyhurst (11-9-1, 9-5)
The Lakers split every series, 1-1, with each of their last three opponents; UConn, Holy Cross, and the University of Maine, in their last six games.

2. Holy Cross (12-8-2, 8-5-2)
Holy Cross had three wins over break, but most notably a 5-3 victory over the Atlantic Conference leading Niagara University. The Crusaders have not dropped more than two consecutive games all season.

1. Niagara (14-4-4, 13-1-1)
With only one loss in conference play, the Purple Eagles were on an eight game winning streak before a 2-2 tie with RIT one game before break. Niagara will face off with RIT in their next game on Friday, Jan. 25th.