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CIS MEN'S HOCKEY TOP 10 (#6): V-Reds remain at No. 1, Redmen make a push

Published: 22 November 2011

OTTAWA (CIS) - The reigning national champion University of New Brunswick Varsity Reds top the CIS men's hockey rankings for the sixth time in as many polls this season, but they are starting to feel the heat from the team they beat in last year's University Cup final, the McGill Redmen.

The V-Reds lost four first-place votes to the No. 2-ranked Redmen this week, earning 12 No. 1 nods - and 165 points - from the national media panel compared to five - and 148 points - for their Montreal rivals.

After opening the regular season with seven straight wins, UNB (9-2-1) lost a game for the third consecutive week this past weekend, dropping a 3-2 decision to UPEI on Friday night. The University Cup champs rebounded on Sunday however with a hard-fought 2-1 victory over the No. 3 Moncton Aigles Bleus.

McGill (10-1-2), meanwhile, kept rolling in the OUA conference, shutting out Queen's 6-0 in its lone outing of the week.

Rounding out the new media poll are Moncton (9-3-0), up two positions; Western Ontario (9-1-2), which stays put at No. 4; No. 5 Alberta (8-2-2) and No. 6 Acadia (8-3-1), both up one position; No. 7 Saskatchewan (7-2-2), down four spots; No. 8 Lakehead (11-3-0), up one; No. 9 Calgary (9-5-0), unranked a week ago; and Manitoba (7-3-2), down two spots to No. 10.

No. 3 Moncton beat St. Thomas 3-2 in its first game of the past weekend on Friday to keep pace with UNB in the AUS standings. After 12 matches, the Aigles Bleus trail the V-Reds by a single point in the Atlantic.

No. 4 Western beat UOIT 5-3 on Friday but lost 5-4 to Laurier on Saturday. Prior to that setback against the Golden Hawks, the Mustangs were the last team in the country without a regulation loss in conference play.

Saskatchewan was the biggest loser in this week's Top 10 following a two-game sweep at the hands of Calgary, 3-2 and 4-3 in overtime.

CIS MEN'S HOCKEY TOP 10 (#6)

Voting is based on a 10-9-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1 basis, with a 1st place vote worth 10 points. The CIS Men's Ice Hockey Top Ten Committee is made up of media members from across Canada.

(regular season record) / votes (first-place votes) / (previous rankings)

1. UNB (9-2-1) / 165 pts (12) / (1)

2. McGill (10-1-2) / 148 (5) / (2)

3. Moncton (9-3-0) / 107 / (5)

4. Western Ontario (9-1-2) / 104 / (4)

5. Alberta (8-2-2) / 102 / (6)

6. Acadia (8-3-1) / 80 / (7)

7. Saskatchewan (7-2-2) / 71 / (3)

8. Lakehead (11-3-0) / 63 / (9)

9. Calgary (9-5-0) / 43 / (NR)

10. Manitoba (7-3-2) / 22 / (8)

Other teams receiving votes: UQTR (10), Nipissing (9), UPEI (7), Carleton (3), Saint Mary's (2).

-CIS-