Scholastica Mens Hockey Now Nationally Ranked

Jan 23, 2012

Northland Sports Online

DULUTH, Minn. – Coming off a sweep of then fourth-ranked University of Wisconsin-River Falls over the weekend, the St. Scholastica men’s hockey team cracked the top 15 of the USCHO.com Division III poll and is also ranked in the D3hockey.com poll this week.

The Saints (11-5-3, 6-3-3 NCHA) are tied with the Milwaukee School of Engineering for the 14th ranking in this week’s USCHO.com Division III poll. This marks the first time the Saints have been ranked in the USCHO poll since the preseason ranking before the 2010-11 season.

The Saints are back in the D3hockey.com top 15 poll this week at No. 14. The Saints had brief stint in that poll after splitting at St. Norbert College in mid-December. At that time they were ranked 15th.

CSS’s victim this past weekend, UW-River Falls, who is currently on a three-game losing skid, remained ranked and sits at eighth in the USCHO poll and ninth in the D3hockey poll.

CSS is currently on a five-game unbeaten streak, including a three-game winning streak. The Saints are 3-1 this season against teams ranked in the top five nationally. St. Scholastica is all alone in second place of the Northern Collegiate Hockey Association (NCHA) standings, two points behind conference leader St. Norbert College.

With three weeks left in the regular season, the Saints begin travel partner play this weekend as the Friday-Saturday series vs. one opponent ended this past weekend. The Saints start with Bridge rival University of Wisconsin-Superior on Thursday at Wessman Arena. The Yellowjackets went 1-0-1 against the Saints at Mars Lakeview Arena to begin the season. The puck drop is scheduled for 7 p.m. Thursday night.

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