Since we're officially into the holiday break, here's a look at AHA conference standings:
36 points - Penn State (12 AHA games played)
22 points - RIT (14 AHA games played)
21 points - Mercyhurst (12 AHA games played)
21 points - Robert Morris (14 AHA games played)
14 points - Lindenwood (12 AHA games played)
13 points - Syracuse (12 AHA games played)
05 points - Delaware (12 AHA games played)
With three points for a conference win, things are tight with second, third, and fourth place standings...maybe even fifth, if Lindenwood decides to get consistent. Syracuse really dropped off, and RIT? In second place? Ahead of Mercyhurst? To be fair, RIT has played two more conference games than Mercyhurst has, and is only a point up, so looks are a little deceiving there.
For Penn State to slip out of first place, they will have to drop five conference games somewhere in the remaining schedule, and someone else will have to have a hell of a run. Penn State is probably the only team this season who can stop Penn State from hanging a fourth consecutive regular season banner.
Penn State plays Cornell on December 30 at home, thankfully - thankfully, because three days later they travel to Ohio State for a weekend series. I don't like a short turn-around like that, especially when it also involves travel, but it is what it is. Ohio State will be coming off nearly a month of holiday break. It's a non-conference series, so it doesn't really matter, but it would be nice to see Penn State take at least one of the games from Ohio State.
If we're being honest, Penn State - good as they are - is not at the caliber of Ohio State, so...if nothing else, it will be good for Penn State to play a team that's at that level before getting back into the remainder of the conference schedule. How much would you trip if Jeff Kampersal decides to start freshman goalie Maddy Campbell in net instead of Katie DeSa? I don't know if I would care...it's non-conference, no points to lose, and Campbell looks like his choice to replace DeSa next season, so let her get a baptism by fire, right?