D3Hockey.com has released its first set of computer rankings for the 2013-14 season. With a huge caveat of small sample size, especially for the NESCAC, Amherst and Williams are one and two, respectively. Babson beat the Lord Jeffs and lost to the Ephs over the weekend and ends up at number three.
The sample size caveat is so pronounced for the NESCAC - who start their season two weeks later than everyone else - that there is an entire warning section in the ranking introductions for interpreting the NESCAC schools computer rankings at this stage.
Below are the NESCAC teams rankings after the first installment. To find the full rankings and explanation of the methodology, click here.
| School | Computer Rank (out of 79 schools) | Points |
|---|---|---|
| Amherst | 1 | 707 |
| Williams | 2 | 703 |
| Trinity | 11 | 608 |
| Middlebury | 13 | 604 |
| Colby | 14 | 602 |
| Bowdoin | 18 | 580 |
| Wesleyan | 26 | 553 |
| Hamilton | 45 | 502 |
| Tufts | 66 | 409 |
| Conn College | 77 | 295 |
Student Newspapers
The Amherst Student recaps the Lord Jeffs last four games against Trinity, Wesleyan, St. Michael's and Babson, while taking a look ahead to big upcoming weekend against Middlebury and bête noire Williams.
The Middlebury Campus chronicles the Panthers PrimeLink Tournament, which included a shootout win against rival Norwich and a finals loss to host Plattsburgh, now the unanimous number one team in the country in national polls. Includes good quotes from seniors Mike Longo, Louis Belisle and goaltender Nick BonDurant, who replaced sophomore Mike Peters in the first period of the finals after Peters gave up three goals on seven shots.
Tufts Daily looks at the Jumbos' Rutland Herald Invitational experience in which they got their first win of the season against the host Castleton Spartans before being blanked in the finals by Manhattanville.
USCHO: Amherst finding ways to stay atop NESCAC standings
In his weekly NESCAC column based on an interview with a NESCAC coach, USCHO's Tim Costello highlights the NESCAC leading Lord Jeffs of Amherst. Coach Jack Arena reveals the formula to Amherst's success. "We play really sound team defense, rely on getting a big save when we need one, timely scoring and really good special teams. So far, that has us off to a good start."
Arena would say that Babson, the only team to beat Amherst this season, is "probably about as good as we are to see in level of competition, so we know to compete at that level we are going to have to get better."
The article also highlights new Amherst assistant and former Lord Jeffs player Eddie Effinger (F, '12). Arena calls Effinger, who played on the 2012 Frozen Four team with current Amherst seniors, a "natural" and says that he would be a very good coach if he decides to do it long term. Costello portrays the Jeffs as an inexperienced and young team, which is a bit of a stretch for a roster that only has three freshman and the rest of the roster evenly distributed by class.
The Lord Jeffs face a big test at home this weekend against Middlebury and Williams, who both sit just one point behind Amherst in the NESCAC standings and have a combined record of 7-1-3 for the season. The Panthers, who knocked Amherst out of the 2012 NESCAC playoffs, are playing "Middlebury hockey" save that first period against Plattsburgh in the PrimeLink finals. Arena caught a period of the rival Ephs win against Babson a day after the Jeffs' loss to the Beavers and said that he didn't think Babson "came out with the same intensity and crispness that we saw on Saturday, but that is to take nothing away from Williams...".
After Saturday's game against Williams, Amherst doesn't officially practice again until the 28th. The ice will be open for players who can fit in some puck between papers/finals and Arenas believes guys will get in time when they are home.
In his weekly NESCAC column based on an interview with a NESCAC coach, USCHO's Tim Costello highlights the NESCAC leading Lord Jeffs of Amherst. Coach Jack Arena reveals the formula to Amherst's success. "We play really sound team defense, rely on getting a big save when we need one, timely scoring and really good special teams. So far, that has us off to a good start."
Arena would say that Babson, the only team to beat Amherst this season, is "probably about as good as we are to see in level of competition, so we know to compete at that level we are going to have to get better."
The article also highlights new Amherst assistant and former Lord Jeffs player Eddie Effinger (F, '12). Arena calls Effinger, who played on the 2012 Frozen Four team with current Amherst seniors, a "natural" and says that he would be a very good coach if he decides to do it long term. Costello portrays the Jeffs as an inexperienced and young team, which is a bit of a stretch for a roster that only has three freshman and the rest of the roster evenly distributed by class.
The Lord Jeffs face a big test at home this weekend against Middlebury and Williams, who both sit just one point behind Amherst in the NESCAC standings and have a combined record of 7-1-3 for the season. The Panthers, who knocked Amherst out of the 2012 NESCAC playoffs, are playing "Middlebury hockey" save that first period against Plattsburgh in the PrimeLink finals. Arena caught a period of the rival Ephs win against Babson a day after the Jeffs' loss to the Beavers and said that he didn't think Babson "came out with the same intensity and crispness that we saw on Saturday, but that is to take nothing away from Williams...".
After Saturday's game against Williams, Amherst doesn't officially practice again until the 28th. The ice will be open for players who can fit in some puck between papers/finals and Arenas believes guys will get in time when they are home.
How's it smell behind my Mules, Bowdoin?!?
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