Atlantic Hockey 2017-2018

[Chris Lerch]

Re: Atlantic Hockey 2017-2018

Parity is helping and hurting the league. You've got a tighter concentration of AHC teams in the PWR (from Mercyhurst at #29 to AIC at #52). The good news is having the lowest ranked AHC team eight places from the bottom might be the best season so far in terms of not have 3-4 teams at or near the very bottom, which has often been the case. The bad news is that having the highest team at 29 is also unusually low - there's typically an AHC team or two lurking near the bubble in the high teens or low 20s.

Going into today's Sacred Heart vs. Air Force game, the standings are a hot mess:

Canisius can finish from 1-7
Mercyhurst 1-9
Holy Cross 1-9
Robert Morris 1-11
RIT 1-11
Army West Point 1-11
Air Force 1-11
Niagara 4-11
AIC 2-11
Bentley 4-11
Sacred Heart 2-11

So yes, with 4-5 games left, there are four teams in the middle of the pack (RMU, RIT, AWP, AFA) that can finish from first to last. Dan will have more in his column this week, and then I will update the odds going into the final weekend.

[komey1]

Re: Atlantic Hockey 2017-2018

There is a lot of parody in the conference, and that helps. The conference as a whole still had the worst OOC record among conferences and for any chances of getting at large bids, that has to change. However, every team managed at least 2 "points" in non-league play. Sacred Heart has the best winning percentage of the last place teams in the conferences.

[The Top Shelf]

Re: Atlantic Hockey 2017-2018

From the "Bottom Feeders" thread...

1. Sparty
2. RPI
3. UAA
4. Arizona State
5. Merrimack
6. SLU
7. Miami
8. UAH
9. Vermont
10. LSSU
11. UNH
12. Niagara
13. UMass
14. Brown
15. Wisconsin
16. AIC

Bubble

17. RIT
18. Dartmouth
19. Ferris State
20. Alaska

Has there ever been a Bottom Feeder tournament with 2 - yes, 2! - Atlantic Hockey teams? The AHC has gotten better of late, this is sure an indication of how much.

Only two teams in bottom 16, with AIC right on the cusp at #16. Preppy impressive how far we've come in just a few years and a great indication of how the bright the future could be.

Expanding scholarships, spiffy new rinks and impressive parity across the league. Things are looking up for Atlantic Hockey!

[Snively65]

The relatively good early success in non-conference action has been a pleasant surprise.

Bentley now 2-1 in OOC games, with last three coming up this Saturday (at Dartmouth) and January 5th and 6th (home and home with Northeastern).

[Blitz]

Re: Atlantic Hockey 2017-2018

Still very early in the season things however has been quite surprising in some ways while not too surprising in others.

Niagara many suspected would improve under new leadership, do not think anyone would have them at a .800 clip seven games in.
AIC many thought would continue their upward trend again under new leadership of last season, maintaining a .500 clip after 8 games played.
Robert Morris having mixed results, a .389 pace to start the season.
Bentley struggling to find their consistency, .312 win percentage at the moment.
Air Force not putting up the wins, only six games played in conference but a worrying .250 clip.

With in-conference games numbering between 5 and 10 there is plenty of time for things to balance out, it has been tough for predictions this year in the “AHC Pick Em” thread and that is refreshing seeing on any night any team can win.

Place, Team, GP, W, L, T, Pts., Win %
1) RIT > GP6, W5, L1, T0, PTS10, WIN % 0.833
2) Niagara > GP7, W5, L1, T1, PTS11, WIN % 0.786
3) Holy Cross > GP8, W3, L1, T4, PTS10, WIN % 0.625
4) Army > GP10, W6, L4, T0, PTS12, WIN % 0.600
5) American International > GP8, W3, L3, T2, PTS8, WIN % 0.500
5) Canisius > GP8, W4, L4, T0, PTS8, WIN % 0.500
5) Mercyhurst > GP6, W2, L2, T2, PTS6, WIN % 0.500
8) Robert Morris > GP9, W3, L5, T1, PTS7, WIN % 0.389
9) Bentley > GP8, W1, L4, T3, PTS5, WIN % 0.312
10) Air Force > GP6, W1, L4, T1, PTS3, WIN % 0.250
11) Sacred Heart > GP6, W1, L5, T0, PTS2, WIN % 0.167

End of season predictions have to be a daunting task right now.

[komey1]

Re: Atlantic Hockey 2017-2018

The relatively good early success in non-conference action has been a pleasant surprise.

[Blitz]

Re: Atlantic Hockey 2017-2018

Hi there gentlemen,

It is extremely early in the season for Atlantic Hockey, however I have been impressed by so much of what I have seen so far in 2017/2018. The standings quite simply have too few data points to make anything firm, as three teams have not yet seen any action in conference play and a few additional teams only having a single contest. We are also short on Bentley & AIC who face off tonight to make an exciting battle if you are fortunate to have a front row seat!

I have sorted by winning percentage for the moment…………

Conference
Place, Team, W, L, T, GP, PTS, WIN %
1) Niagara W1 L0 T0 GP1 PTS2 (WIN %) 1
2) Army W3 L1 T0 GP4 PTS6 (WIN %) 0.75
2) Holy Cross W2 L0 T2 GP4 PTS6 (WIN %) 0.75
4) Canisius W1 L1 T0 GP2 PTS2 (WIN %) 0.5
4) Mercyhurst W0 L0 T2 GP2 PTS2 (WIN %) 0.5
6) Robert Morris W2 L3 T0 GP5 PTS4 (WIN %) 0.4
7) American International W0 L2 T1 GP3 PTS1 (WIN %) 0.167
7) Bentley W0 L2 T1 GP3 PTS1 (WIN %) 0.167
9) Air Force W0 L0 T0 GP0 PTS0 (WIN %) 0
9) RIT W0 L0 T0 GP0 PTS0 (WIN %) 0
9) Sacred Heart W0 L0 T0 GP0 PTS0 (WIN %) 0

Overall
Place, Team, W, L, T, GP, WIN %
1) Air Force W4 L1 T1 GP6 (WIN %) 0.75
1) Army W3 L1 T0 GP4 (WIN %) 0.75
1) Holy Cross W2 L0 T2 GP4 (WIN %) 0.75
4) Canisius W1 L1 T1 GP3 (WIN %) 0.5
4) Mercyhurst W1 L1 T2 GP4 (WIN %) 0.5
4) Niagara W2 L2 T0 GP4 (WIN %) 0.5
7) Robert Morris W2 L3 T0 GP5 (WIN %) 0.4
7) Sacred Heart W2 L3 T0 GP5 (WIN %) 0.4
9) American International W1 L5 T1 GP7 (WIN %) 0.214
10) Bentley W0 L2 T1 GP3 (WIN %) 0.167
11) RIT W0 L2 T1 GP3 (WIN %) 0.167


Some big surprises early for sure with AIC battling every night and coming off some games that they wholeheartedly should have straight out won.

I am delighted to see some early goaltenders emerge to fill the void left from departures, while others are standing tall and giving their teams a chance to take some points.

Early thoughts from others, what has surprised you so far??

[Downstate_RIT_Fan]

Re: Atlantic Hockey 2017-2018

AIC just beat Penn State in OT. Another huge OOC win for the AHC!

You have to wonder if the bump in the scholarship numbers are starting to help the AHC. A hot shot coming out of juniors can make an immediate impact on an AHC team while maybe not so on some of the traditionally strong teams in other conferences, maybe you have to wait your turn those first few years of D1 on account of the depth of the traditional powerhouses... Regardless of the reason, it is good to see...

[mar7967]

Re: Atlantic Hockey 2017-2018

AIC just beat Penn State in OT. Another huge OOC win for the AHC!

[Leather Lungs]

NICC overmatched by an Atlantic Hockey team that lost over 80% of its scoring to graduation.

UConn and Notre Dame. Well done, Sacred Heart!

[Snively65]

Huge win by Sacred Heart over #5 Notre Dame last night!

NICC overmatched by an Atlantic Hockey team that lost over 80% of its scoring to graduation.

[mar7967]

Re: Atlantic Hockey 2017-2018

Huge win by Sacred Heart over #5 Notre Dame last night!

[komey1]

Re: Atlantic Hockey 2017-2018

Solid start to the OOC record. Need to keep it up and with the quality of the top teams in the conference I see no reason why the record won't be at least somewhat reasonable.

[RIT Winters]

Re: Atlantic Hockey 2017-2018

Fancy new trophy for the conference: http://atlantichockeyonline.com/news...on-trophy.aspx

Finally we're a little less beer league.

[mar7967]

Re: Atlantic Hockey 2017-2018

Fancy new trophy for the conference: http://atlantichockeyonline.com/news...on-trophy.aspx