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Boston University’s grip on college hockey’s #1 spot was a brief one as they fell to #16 UMass on road this weekend to fall to #2 overall, while retaining four first place votes.  BU rebounded to shut out #6 Northeastern at home 3-0 on Sunday.  With the Terriers ceding the top spot, Minnesota retook it, and 42 of 50 first place tallies, as the teams flip-flopped in the rankings.  Colorado College, with two first place votes, held onto #3 and BC moved up one spot to #4.

Notre Dame took fifth, followed by Northeastern, who beat #15 Vermont prior to the BU loss, at sixth.  Princeton, at #8, and Air Force, sporting a perfect 10-0-0 record at #12, split the final two first place votes.

Hockey East showed itself to be a balanced conference with seven of the ten teams in the nation’s Top 20.  However, they also seem to be looking for a top dog as they beat each other up this weekend; the top four teams all split their weekend games.  In addition to Northeastern and BU, BC beat #13 New Hampshire and tied Merrimack and UMass lost to UMass-Lowell following the defeat of BU.  Maine swept Providence, who is still without a conference win, and UMass-Lowell also beat UNH as those teams were the big winners this weekend.  UNH gave up eight goals in each of their losses to fall to 2-2-2 in early conference action and drop seven spots in the poll to #13.  Harvard, the city’s ECAC entrant, defeated Clarkson and St. Lawrence to re-enter the poll at #18.

This weekend’s action will be headlined by a home and home series between the Eagles and Minutemen.  Vermont plays two games at BU as a strong undercard for conference matchups.  Northeastern plays UNH and UMass-Lowell while Maine looks to continue its strong play with two home games against Merrimack.

Tags: Boston College, Boston University, Harvard University, Maine, Merrimack College, Northeastern University, Providence College, UMass, UMass-Lowell, University of New Hampshire, Vermont