2022-23 Atlantic Hockey Power Rankings

No. 18 RIT Nears Top-Seed Lock

RIT has a nine-point lead in Atlantic Hockey. A winding down regular season has the Tigers close to the top playoff seed and potential at-large NCAA berth.

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: 14-1-1-4 (19-8-1 overall)

The No. 18 Tigers continue to roll. 

With a 2-0-0-2 record since the last rankings, the Tigers’ point streak remains. 

Their last conference game without at least a point dates back to Oct. 20.

A comfy nine-point lead in Atlantic Hockey and a winding down regular season has RIT as a near lock for the top playoff seed and eyeing a potential at-large NCAA berth.

2. Sacred Heart (Last Ranking: 3)

Record: 11-5-3 (14-11-2 overall)

The Pioneers hold a game in hand on the next three programs in the standings. 

A 5-0 nonconference loss to No. 1 Quinnipiac was shaken off with a nonconference win over Yale. 

A home-and-home split with AIC saw a loss on their home ice.

Now, their next three games come at home in their new arena, and they certainly are going to look to bounce back again and make a statement with a run at RIT and cemented home ice come playoffs.

3. AIC (Last Ranking: 2)

Record: 9-7-3-1 (14-11-5 overall)

The Yellow Jackets aforementioned split with Sacred Heart was their lone action since the  last rankings, where a bye week means a 2-2 record over the last three weeks. 

Two of the Jackets’ past three wins came in extra time. They’re playing dangerously, but also resilient.

Still, their resilience is up against time, and with each passing game, their chance for a fifth straight conference title slips away. 

Another national tournament berth, however, remains to be seen.

4. Holy Cross (Last Ranking: 5)

Record: 7-8-3-2 (10-15-3 overall)

The Crusaders’ 3-1 record since the last rankings has put them in fourth place with Mercyhurst, holding the tiebreaker over the Lakers and feeling confident in their game.

With Army, Niagara and Canisius remaining, the path to points and a top-3 finish is doable, and a 5-2-1 conference record in 2023 has the Crusaders pushing forward.

5. Mercyhurst (Last Ranking: 4)

Record: 7-6-1-6 (8-17-3 overall)

The Lakers are riding out a three-game losing streak after a split with Bentley and sweep by Air Force. 

With six games remaining and in a tie for fourth place, the Lakers have some time but have a lot of work to do.

6. Army West Point (Last Ranking: 7)

Record: 6-7-3-3 (9-14-4 overall)

Two points back from fourth place with a game in hand on fourth-place ties Holy Cross and Mercyhurst has the Black Knights in control of their season with a series against each program this month.

The Knights have taken at least a point in six of their past seven games and finish the season against a struggling Bentley program. 

Home ice is achievable at West Point.

7. Niagara (Last Ranking: 6)

Record: 7-9-2-2 (13-12-3 overall)

With nine points over their past five contests, the Purple Eagles are tied with Army for sixth place but have one fewer game to play. 

RIT and Holy Cross don’t leave much for optimism of a late-season push.

Ending the season with a home-and-home with Mercyhurst means their three final series could each be a potential preview of their opening-round matchup in the postseason.

8. Canisius (Last Ranking: 8)

Record: 4-8-4-2 (9-14-3 overall)

With three of their final four series coming against current top-4conference programs, the Golden Griffins’ disappointing season doesn’t appear to be coming to an end this month.

Still, a 4-3-1 record in 2023 has them playing their best stretch of the season, and they’ll look to shake up the standings and give February their everything on their way to an underdog position in March.

9. Air Force (Last Ranking: 10)

Record: 5-11-1-1 (10-16-2 overall)

The Falcons have gone 3-1 since last rankings, pulling themselves out of 10th place, both here and in the standings. 

A split with Army and a sweep of Mercyhurst should have some confidence flying alongside the airmen.

Home ice is a longshot, but every point puts them closer to the middle of the pack and into a more favorable position come the postseason. Add in some games in hand and the standings remain in flux.

10. Bentley (Last Ranking: 9)

Record: 5-13-1-1 (8-19-1 overall)

Since mid-January’s sweep over Niagara, the Falcons have gone 1-3-1-1. 

With Air Force and Canisius each having two games in hand, the Falcons seem to be gliding toward a last-place finish.

Cue up a weekend home-and-home with AIC and a trip to RIT over the next two weeks, and the road ahead isn’t much friendlier than the road left behind.


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