Number One
MJ: Jimmy Vesey, F Harvard (6 games played, 5 goals, 11 points)
Okay Kyle, you were right— barely. Both Vesey and Travis St. Denis were almost non-factors in the Harvard vs. Quinnipiac matchup. But on Saturday, Vesey helped lead his team to a 3-0 win over Princeton with a goal and an assist. I don’t want to give in, but Vesey had the better weekend. He is the best player in the ECAC. For now…
Kyle: Jimmy Vesey, F Harvard
I hate to say I told you so MJ…but I told you so. Vesey didn’t have a great weekend though. While he was only contained to two shots against Quinnipiac, St. Denis didn’t do enough to overtake for the number one spot. His two points against Princeton also show that Quinnipiac game was nothing to worry about. Vesey will stay at the top of my list.
Number Two
Kyle: Travis St. Denis, F Quinnipiac (11 games played, 8 goals, 14 points)
Second in the ECAC in points and tied for goals— with two of his teammates— St. Denis is obviously near the top of my list. The most dangerous playmaker from a deep Quinnipiac offense, he is having an outstanding senior campaign.
MJ: Travis St. Denis, F Quinnipiac
Well, ultimately my former #1 pick fell short this weekend under “pressure”, at least from me. St. Denis had two assists this weekend, keeping up his point numbers for the year, but that wasn’t enough to retain his #1 spot. The bright spot going forward is St. Denis is one of the backbones of the best power play in the nation.
Number Three
MJ: Gavin Bayreuther, D St. Lawrence (11 games played, 4 goals, 10 points)
Bayreuther played well enough to maintain his spot after this weekend. He didn’t stand out, but he didn’t fall short either. He contributed a goal in his teams shutout win over Clarkson. No reason for him to fall down the rankings, he is still the best defenseman in the ECAC, leading the position in goals.
Kyle: Sam Anas, F Quinnipiac (11 games played, 8 goals, 15 points)
While Bayreuther is definitely talented, Sam Anas had a great weekend, and I find him slightly more valuable to his team. Anas just scored the 50th goal of his career this past weekend, while also becoming the current conference leader in points and tied for the lead in goals. Anas’s 4 goals in his last 3 games is good enough to increase to third in my ranking.
Number Four
Kyle: Gavin Bayreuther, D St. Lawrence
I agree that Bayreuther is the best defenseman in the ECAC, his 10 points on the year prove it. St. Lawrence played Clarkson in one game this past weekend, and Bayreuther had one goal, which was the game winner. I’m interested in how Bayreuther will play against the potent Quinnipiac offense this upcoming Saturday.
MJ: Sam Anas, F Quinnipiac
To be truthful, I felt Anas and Bayreuther each deserves the title of being a top three player, but unfortunately there is not enough room for both. I do not want to speak for you Kyle, but would say these two could be interchangeable. Fifty goals in three years. Wow. He’s having a great junior campaign, tied for the league lead in goals, and standing alone in first in points.
Number Five
MJ: Michael Garteig, G Quinnipiac (11-0-0, 1.59 GAA, .931 SV%)
11-0-0. Number one PairWise team in the nation. Best goalie in the league, nothing to show he isn’t this season. Enough said.
Kyle: Tyson Spink, F Colgate (11 games, 5 goals, 11 points)
One goal and no assists in two games this past weekend isn’t enough to keep Spink at third in the conference. His -2 ranking is also a little concerning, however you can’t argue with his 11 points on the year. If Spink can play like he was at the beginning of the season, he will go up on my list.
Number Six
Kyle: Michael Garteig G Quinnipiac
Gartieg surpasses Lyon on my list for best goalie in the conference. Allowing only one goal, which was on a six on three disadvantage, to a number seven ranked Harvard team was downright impressive. Garteig also has the best goals against average in the conference at 1.59, and he is the only goalie with a perfect win percentage. Having a great senior year.
MJ: Riley Bourbonnais, F Rensselaer (11 games, 6 goals, 11 points)
Tyson Spink just did not cut it for me this weekend. Colgate had two bad losses to Cornell, and Spink did not do much to help his team. Riley Bourbonnais, on the other hand, had a goal and an assist this weekend. RPI looked great in their win over Yale, but a tie to Brown put a bit of a damper on that win. Rensselaer is leading the ECAC right now, and Bourbonnais is the leader of this winning team. Bourbonnais only fell in my rankings because of the other big names making moves.
Number Seven
MJ: Tim Clifton, F Quinnipiac (7 games, 8 goals, 11 points)
Tim Clifton? Legends only. Clifton has played in seven games for the Bobcats. Clifton has eight goals. Clifton is tied for the lead for goals in the league with teammates Anas and St. Denis, and ranked sixth in the nation in goals scored. He is second in the nation in power play goals. Who says a big man can’t dominate? No way Clifton shouldn’t be on this list, he moves up two spots this week, and many more if he keeps up his production.
Kyle: Riley Bourbonnais, F Rensselaer
Bourbonnais had 11 points in 11 games this season, but the forward had one goal and one assist this last weekend. His consistent play moves him up one spot on my list.
Number Eight
Kyle: Tim Clifton, F Quinnipiac
One of the best starts to the season that I’ve seen from any hockey player. Tim Clifton has now recorded eight goals in seven games this year, at least one in every game he’s played in. His +7 ranking is also one of the best in the conference. Look for him to rise in my ranking if he can continue to play at this impressive level.
MJ: Jeff Kubiak, F Cornell (6 games, 3 goals, 9 points)
On no ones radar last week, Kubiak came out this weekend on a tear. With three assists in two games, Kubiak led Cornell to two big wins in a home and home with Colgate. He now leads the team in points, assists, and plus/minus ranking. Welcome to the top 10.
Number Nine
MJ: Anthony Angello, F Cornell (6 games, 4 goals, 7 points)
Four goals, three assists and a +7 ranking in six games. A freshman. Leads the team in goals. You name it, Angello has it. He is quickly becoming a face of this Cornell team. He moves up one spot in my rankings this week with the game-winning goal in overtime against Yale.
Kyle: Alex Lyon, G Yale (4-1-1, 1.61 GAA, .938 SV%)
Lyon struggled this weekend, saving only 16-of-19 shots against RPI. I rank him lower than Garteig, because his win percentage and goals against average aren’t as good. He is still one of the best goalies in the country, he just had a sub-par weekend.
Number 10
Kyle: Jeff Kubiak, F Cornell
At the end of Kubiak’s freshman year, he was named the Greg Ratushny Award Winner, which names the most promising rookie in Cornell’s program. Well, it seems he’s starting to live up to expectations. Kubiak had a strong weekend against Colgate, tallying three assists on the weekend, increasing his season point total to nine.
MJ: Alex Lyon, G Yale
Rounding out this week’s top 10 is the infamous Yale goaltender, Alex Lyon. Underperforming leads to falling in the rankings. That’s exactly what Lyon did. An overtime loss to RPI certainly was not on Yale’s radar. This kid is still special, and yes everyone underperforms at times. Unquestionably a top 10 player in the league.
