We're officially into December, a month where Division 3 hockey teams can make some noise in the non-conference before turning their full attention to league play after the holiday break.
It’s largely been a return to normalcy in New England this season, but not completely. COVID protocols have kept Middlebury, a team that hopes to make some noise in the NESCAC, from opening its season.
But lots of other teams have made statements heading into the new month.
Here is a look at the top 10 teams in our regional power rankings.
1. NORWICH
Conference: NEHC | Record: 5-0-3 (2-0-3) | Previous: No. 1
Next game: Friday vs. Southern Maine (7 p.m.)
Predictably, with half their roster new to college hockey, the Cadets have had some growing pains, some points left on the table against second-division teams. But they’re one of only two teams in the region without a loss so far as they barrel toward a Saturday showdown with first-place Babson.
How good Norwich can be was on display at this weekend’s FirstLight Shootout at Middlebury, with veteran Brett Ouderkirk collecting five points, including his team-high sixth goal of the season, in an impressive 5-2 win over Plattsburgh.
2. BABSON
Conference: NEHC | Record: 7-1-2 (3-1-2) | Previous: No. 2
Next game: Friday at New England College (7 p.m.)
The Beavers closed out November with four straight wins, including this past weekend’s road sweep of NESCAC foes Bowdoin and Colby. The 5-4 win at Colby saw them battle from behind three separate times, with sophomore Thomas Kramer (Bridgewater, Mass.) scoring the game-winner, his 10th point of the season.
The only knock on Babson so far is its schedule, which will ramp up in intensity starting Saturday at Norwich.
3. TRINITY
Conference: NESCAC | Record: 3-1 (2-0) | Previous: No. 3
Next game: Friday vs. Amherst (7 p.m.)
Even with just a two-weekend sample size, the Bantams have done nothing to dispel the notion that they’re the team to beat in their league. They can score, as evidenced by 15 goals in their first three games.
Their lone loss came Sunday to No. 3 Adrian, 1-0. and showcased outstanding play from their new goalie, Niagara transfer Patrick Pugliese, who made 34 saves.
4. ENDICOTT
Conference: CCC | Record: 6-1 (4-1) | Previous: No. 4
Next game: Friday at Curry (7 p.m.)
Another team that’s closing the month on a four-game win streak, the Gulls went out-of-conference and shut out Wesleyan, 3-0, last Tuesday, the seventh career shutout for goalie Conor O’Brien, whose save percentage is hovering at a ridiculous .959.
A home-and-home with first-place Curry this weekend will be one of this week’s marquee attractions.
5. PLYMOUTH STATE
Conference: MASCAC | Record: 5-1-1 (3-0-1) | Previous: No. 6
Next game: Thursday vs. Framingham State (6 p.m.)
The Panthers took a five-game unbeaten streak into the holidays and are again the team to beat in the MASCAC, with Myles Abbate (Norwell, Mass.) and captain Peter Laviolette headlining a balanced attack.
Keep an eye on a three-games-in-four-days stretch in mid-December, when they will get to test themselves out-of-conference against UMass Boston, Wesleyan and New England College. Those results will tell us more about where Plymouth ranks in the regional landscape.
6. UNIVERSITY OF NEW ENGLAND
Conference: CCC | Record: 5-1-1 (4-1-1) | Previous: No. 7
Next game: Friday vs. Western New England (7 p.m.)
As the Nor’easters score, they win. In the four games that they’ve managed at least three goals, they’re 4-0. In the others, just 1-1-1.
Austin Morgan and Jake Fuss (Fairfield, Conn.) have complemented each other nicely, each already with double-digit points, the majority of them assists.
7. WILLIAMS
Conference: NESCAC | Record: 2-2 (2-0) | Previous: No. 5
Next game: Friday vs. Conn. College (7 p.m.)
The call is out for the Ephs’ offense, which has produced just three goals in the first four games.
Standout goalie Evan Ruschil saved their bacon opening weekend, stopping all 42 shots he faced in 1-0 wins over Colby and Bowdoin.
But they couldn’t repeat the storyline in 3-1 and 3-0 home losses to Oswego over the weekend, with sophomore Jacob Monroe (Wethersfield, Conn.) scoring the only goal. He has two of the team’s three goals so far.
8. CURRY
Conference: CCC | Record: 7-0-1 (5-0-1) | Previous: NR
Next game: Friday vs. Endicott (7 p.m.)
The Colonels are flying around the ice under new coach Peter Roundy (Simsbury, Conn.), scoring a league-best 4.38 goals per game. Elusive, 5-foot-6 junior Timmy Kent has already tallied eight times and set up four others.
Ironically, Roundy ticked off goaltending and a veteran defense as his top assets entering the season. Offensively, he wanted his team to “value the puck and be creative,” and it’s certainly done that. The schedule hasn't been particularly stiff, so this weekend's series with Endicott is a big one.
9. SALVE REGINA
Conference: CCC | Record: 5-4 (4-2) | Previous: No. 10
Next game: Friday at Suffolk (7 p.m.)
With two straight losses chasing them into Sunday’s game against Wesleyan, the Seahawks needed someone to step up. Seth Benson did.
Benson produced his first career hat trick, scoring three goals in the second period, and Salve closed out an uneven month with a 4-1 win.
10. UMASS BOSTON
Conference: NEHC | Record: 5-4-1 (3-2-1) | Previous: NR
Next game: Saturday vs. Anna Maria (4 p.m.)
The Beacons saw first-hand how tough this new-look NEHC is the weekend before Thanksgiving, going on the road and getting handled by Hobart (8-4) and Elmira (5-2). That was followed by Friday’s 6-2 loss to No. 1 SUNY-Geneseo at the Utica College Thanksgiving Showcase.
UMB can score goals -- 40 in 10 games -- but will need to dig in defensively to compete against the top teams.
@MikeZhe603
mzhe@hockeyjournal.com
