There haven’t been many statement weekends in Division 3 this season like the one Curry College just produced.
The Colonels (17-4-1) faced fellow contender Salve Regina (13-7-2) in a home-and-home at the top of the Commonwealth Coast Conference. When it was over, after 6-1 and 4-0 one-sided wins, Curry had extended its win streak to nine games and perched itself in first place with two weekends left in the regular season.
With conference tournaments right around the corner – the NEHC plays its quarterfinal round on Feb. 17 – it’s becoming clearer who the contenders (and pretenders) are in New England.
Here is a look at our latest regional Top 10.
1. TRINITY
Record: 16-3-1 (12-1-1 NESCAC) | Previous ranking: No. 2
Next game: Friday vs. Colby
The Bantams gutted out a couple of tough road wins at Williams and Middlebury over the weekend, both by 3-2 scores. Back-to-back quick strikes by seniors Christian Hayes (Milton, Mass.) and Kyle Tomaso (Newport, R.I.) helped them overcome a two-goal deficit against Williams, while Tomaso was the hero the next day, skating end-to-end and scoring the overtime winner. One more victory will lock down the No. 1 seed for the conference tournament.
2. CURRY
Record: 17-4-1 (12-3-0 CCC) | Previous ranking: No. 8
Next game: Friday at Wentworth
You've got to tip your cap to the job coach Peter Roundy has done this season, getting his team to the top of the CCC without having its best offensive player for a single game. It’s nine straight wins now for the Colonels and many in that streak have come against the league's iron – Endicott, the University of New England and the two over the weekend against Salve. Gage Dill is enjoying an outstanding sophomore season, leading the team in scoring (9-15-24) and sharing the plus/minus lead with impact freshman defenseman Ryan Prewitt (Abington, Mass.).
3. NORWICH
Record: 13-6-4 (10-3-3 NEHC) | Previous ranking: No. 5
Next game: Friday at Babson
The Cadets are sitting in third place during this current, four-game unbeaten streak, winning games of different flavors. Sami Molu and Bryce Walcarius combined for 26 saves in a 1-0 shutout of Skidmore, and the attack ramped up in the next two games, a 4-4 tie at Plattsburgh and a 5-2 win at New England College. Wins and Babson and Southern Maine this weekend would give Norwich a shot at the No. 2 seed for the NEHC tournament.
4. PLYMOUTH STATE
Record: 17-2-2 (14-1-2 MASCAC) | Previous ranking: No. 3
Next game: Thursday vs. Fitchburg State
The Panthers finally got nicked by a MASCAC opponent, losing 3-2 at Westfield State on Thursday to snap a 39-game unbeaten run against league foes (a run that started in February of 2022 after another loss at Westfield State). National leading scorer Will Redick helped get them back on track by scoring twice in the first period of a 7-3 pasting of the Mass. College of Liberal Arts on Saturday.
5. ENDICOTT
Record: 13-4-5 (10-2-3 CCC) | Previous ranking: No. 6
Next game: Friday at the University of New England
The Gulls are fattening up for the playoffs on the league’s underbelly, with five wins and a tie in their last six games to move into second place. They’ve allowed just nine goals in those six games, with sophomore goalies Ryan Wilson of Shelton, Conn. (1.87 GAA, .937 save percentage) and Atticus Kelly (1.90, .942) continuing their effective platoon.
6. UNIVERSITY OF NEW ENGLAND
Record: 14-5-3 (8-4-3 CCC) | Previous ranking: No. 1
Next game: Friday vs. Endicott
It’s been feast or famine for the Nor’easters, who followed up a 14-game unbeaten streak with three straight close losses to fall off the pace in the CCC. With goals not flowing as freely as in years past (3.0 goals per game), UNE has had to dig in to win a lot of close games. Having veteran Billy Girard IV (1.97 GAA, .928 save percentage) in net will be a big asset come playoff time.
7. BOWDOIN
Record: 12-4-4 (8-2-4 NESCAC) | Previous ranking: No. 10
Next game: Friday at Wesleyan
Five straight games without a loss have boosted the Polar Bears into second place in the NESCAC. Senior forward Patrick Callahan scored a pair of power-play goals in the first period Saturday to point a quality, 3-2 win over Hamilton in the right direction. After winning the tournament as the No. 7 seed last season, Bowdoin will enter this year’s tourney from a position of strength.
8. BABSON
Record: 12-9-2 (10-5-1 NEHC) | Previous ranking: No. 7
Next game: Friday vs. Norwich
The Beavers currently sit fourth in the NEHC but can climb into the top four by beating Norwich on Friday and having an out-of-town result or two go their way. But the confidence-boosting November weekend sweep of Elmira and Hobart seems a long time ago. In five games against teams above them in the standings since then, the Beavers have gone 0-5 and been outscored 22-5 in those games. Not the form you want to bring into the postseason.
9. SALVE REGINA
Record: 13-7-2 (8-5-2 CCC) | Previous ranking: No. 4
Next game: Friday at Suffolk
The Seahawks are in the midst of their first rocky patch of the season and it’s cost them any chance at a first-place finish. The four losses they’ve absorbed in their last five games include the weekend statement by Curry, but also a 3-2 loss at second-division Nichols. The production that had been steady all season has dried up, with the team managing just eight goals during this five-game skid.
10. TUFTS
Record: 11-7-2 (8-5-1 NESCAC) | Previous ranking: No. 9
Next game: Friday vs. Amherst
They haven't kept up January's blistering pace, but a weekend split with Conn. College keeps the Jumbos on track for a top-four finish in the NESCAC, no small achievement for that program. Junior Harrison Bazianos and Tyler Sedlak both scored two goals, and senior goalie Peyton Durand (Newport, R.I.) made 22 saves on Saturday to earn a 4-0 shutout.
@MikeZhe603
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