OTTAWA (CIS) The University of Moncton Aigles Bleus remain atop the CIS mens hockey national media poll for a school-record ninth consecutive week on the eve of the final weekend of the regular season in the Atlantic conference.
Behind the Aigles Bleus, the two-time CIS defending champion Alberta Golden Bears hold on to the No. 2 spot while the No. 3 Wilfrid Laurier Golden Hawks and No. 4 UNB Varsity Reds both move ahead of the Saskatchewan Huskies, who fall two positions to No. 5 following back-to-back losses to Regina.
No. 1 Moncton (20-4-0-2) kept a 1-1 record over the past week, shutting out Dalhousie 3-0 before dropping a 4-2 decision to the No. 7 St. Francis Xavier X-Men (15-8-0-3). The Aigles Bleus, who clinched first place in the AUS standings two weeks ago, round out conference play this weekend against UPEI (9-15-0-2) and St. Thomas (14-12-0-0). Moncton will then enjoy a bye in the first round of the conference playoffs.
No. 2 Alberta (18-4-0-4) swept a two-game series over provincial Calgary last week to clinch first place in the Canada West combined standings for the seventh consecutive campaign. The Bears, who hold an 11-point lead in the Mountain Division standings and will enjoy a bye in the opening round of the Canada West post-season, put an end to their regular schedule this weekend with a home doubleheader against UBC (14-11-0-1).
This marks a landmark week for No. 3 Wilfrid Laurier (22-5-1-0). With wins over Guelph, 3-2 in OT, and York, 7-3, the Hawks set a single-season team record with 22 conference victories and reached their best Top 10 ranking since soaring all the way to No. 2 in March of 1990.
Laurier, whose previous single-season mark was 20 wins in 1985-86 and 1993-94, finished first in the OUA Mid West with a 14-point cushion over York and enjoys a bye in the first round of the OUA playoffs which kick off this week with four best-of-three series, including the No. 9 McGill Redmen (15-7-5-1) versus cross-town rival Concordia.
CIS mens hockey playoff schedule Feb. 13-18 (all times LOCAL)
Note: 2007 University Cup hosted by Moncton, March 22-25. Berths go to AUS (3, Moncton already qualified s host), OUA (2), Canada West (1).
Wednesday, Feb. 14
19:00 Queens at Ottawa, OUA East quarter-final (best-of-3)
19:00 Concordia at No. 9 McGill, OUA East quarter-final (best-of-3)
19:30 York at Lakehead, OUA West quarter-final (best-of-3)
Thursday, Feb. 15
19:30 Brock at Western, OUA West quarter-final (best-of-3)
Friday, Feb. 16
19:00 Ottawa at Queens, OUA East quarter-final (best-of-3)
19:30 No. 9 McGill at Concordia, OUA East quarter-final (best-of-3)
Saturday, Feb. 17
14:00 Lakehead at York, OUA West quarter-final (best-of-3)
19:35 Western at Brock, OUA West quarter-final (best-of-3)
Sunday, Feb. 18
14:00 Queens at Ottawa, OUA East quarter-final (best-of-3: if necessary)
14:00 Lakehead at York, OUA West quarter-final (best-of-3: if necessary)
19:00 Concordia at No. 9 McGill, OUA East quarter-final (best-of-3: if necessary)
19:30 Brock at Western, OUA West quarter-final (best-of-3: if necessary)
CIS mens hockey Top 10 (#14)
Voting is based on a 10-9-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1 basis, with a 1st place vote worth 10 points. The CIS Mens Ice Hockey Top Ten Committee is made up of media members from across Canada. CIS Mens Ice Hockey Top Ten Committee Chairman: Steve Knowles.
RANK TEAM CONFERENCE (Overall) RECORD PTS (1st Place) LAST WEEK
1. MONCTON AIGLES BLEUS 20-4-0-2 96 (7) 1
2. ALBERTA GOLDEN BEARS 18-4-0-4 92 (2) 2
3. WILFRID LAURIER GOLDEN HAWKS 22-5-1-0 75 (1) 4
4. UNB VARSITY REDS 16-7-0-3 71 5
5. SASKATCHEWAN HUSKIES 16-9-0-3 57 3
6. WATERLOO WARRIORS 21-4-2-1 50 6
7. StFX<