2022-23 Atlantic Hockey Power Rankings
RIT, Sacred Heart Stay Hot
RIT's sweep of Bentley was a strong start to the year, helping build a five-point lead in Atlantic Hockey, with a game in hand on second and third place.
FloHockey’s bimonthly evaluation on everything Atlantic Hockey. Find out which of the AHA’s 10 teams rise, fall or stay put as weekly series unfold in Atlantic Hockey.
1. RIT (Last Ranking: 1)
Record: 11-1-1-1 (14-6 overall)
The Tigers’ sweep of Bentley was a strong start to the New Year, helping build a five-point lead in Atlantic Hockey, with a game in hand on second and third place.
A home series with Mercyhurst leads into three straight away series with Arizona State (nonconference) and Holy Cross.
2. Sacred Heart (Last Ranking: 3)
Record: 9-4-2 (11-8-1 overall)
The Pioneers are 3-1 in the new semester, with a perfect 12 points taken in Atlantic Hockey. They open their new arena this week, hosting Boston College, where they’ll play seven of their final 11 conference games.
Four points up on AIC, and two home-and-homes with the Black Knights in February, will make for an interesting final month.
The wait is almost over as @SHUHockey gets set to open its new state-of-the-art Martire Family Arena this week with a marquee matchup against @BC_MHockey. Head coach C.J. Marotollo previews the highly-anticipated opener: https://t.co/tkYFt7bMfi
— FloHockey (@FloHockey) January 9, 2023
3. AIC (Last Ranking: 2)
Record: 8-5-1-1 (10-9-5 overall)
The Yellow Jackets have used three nonconference games to open the new semester and get up to speed.
An 0-2-0-1 record in that span came with a sweep by Cornell and loss to No. 13 UMass-Lowell.
A seven-game conference point streak has the Jackets on the verge of another late-season surge. They’re eyeing a fifth consecutive conference title.
4. Niagara (Last Ranking: 5)
Record: 5-5-2 (11-7-2 overall)
The Purple Eagles have gone 2-2 in the second half of the season, splitting nonconference series with Miami and St. Lawrence.
January could be the make-or-break month, as three consecutive series come against the three lowest conference programs.
Finding consistency and maximizing that point potential will solidify home ice in the conference tournament.
5. Mercyhurst (Last Ranking: 4)
Record: 5-3-0-4 (6-12-2 overall)
The Lakers slip comes after a sweep by Sacred Heart to open the new semester. They still have taken points in seven of their past eight games for a 5-1-0-2 record.
The acronyms loom, as RIT and AIC come next. Each will be looking to expand their points in the standings.
The Lakers’ five-game win streak isn’t far back, so it will be up to them which team arrives.
6. Army West Point (Last Ranking: 6)
Record: 4-6-1-1 (6-11-3 overall)
The Black Knights hold the tiebreaker over Holy Cross, which shares an identical conference record.
Three games over the past six days saw the Knights go 0-2-1, including a lopsided 5-0 conference loss to Sacred Heart.
Similar to Niagara, the Knights’ January offers a chance to jump on teams lower in the standings, before a trip to Niagara opens February.
7. Holy Cross (Last Ranking: 7)
Record: 4-6-1-1 (5-13-2 overall)
The Crusaders set a pair of nonconference games to keep them fresh for the new semester, where a 4-1 loss to current No. 1 Quinnipiac, and 1-1 tie with Clarkson, could be the spark or 2023.
Air Force will be their last chance at getting up to speed, before facing top-ranked Sacred Heart and RIT in consecutive weekends to close January.
Come for the Crusaders, stay for the... knuckle pucks?
— Holy Cross M. Hockey (@HCrossMHockey) January 9, 2023
This Friday is Mighty Ducks Night down at the Hart Center Rink! TWO lucky fans will go home with replica jerseys from the movie.
Friday, January 13 at 7 p.m. Be there!#GoCrossGo pic.twitter.com/HnSVabZA1W
8. Canisius (Last Ranking: 8)
Record: 2-5-2-1 (5-11-2 overall)
The Golden Griffins haven’t played since Dec. 10, when they lost 3-0 to Maine a week after losing to RIT in a 10-4 barn-burner.
Low-hanging fruit Army and Bentley are up next in consecutive weeks, where the Griffins could start a viable case for home ice come tournament time.
9. Air Force (Last Ranking: 9)
Record: 2-7-0-1 (6-12-2 overall)
The Falcons hold a five-game conference losing streak, extended with losses to Boston University and Arizona State during the Desert Hockey Classic.
The Falcons have a favorable schedule to help them with a winter semester turnaround, where they could begin to find more offense after being held to three or fewer goals over the past 11 games.
10. Bentley (Last Ranking: 10)
Record: 2-10 (5-15 overall)
The Falcons snagged a nonconference win over Northeastern to open the new semester.
A sweep by RIT followed, giving Bentley five consecutive Atlantic Hockey losses.
They will look to shake off the losses with a trip to Niagara this week. Niagara holds a 2-0 record over them this season.
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