More random thoughts from the weekend...
On Thursday, Clarkson Doug and I went to Cornwall, Ont., for a CCHL Junior 'A' game... Hawkesbury at Cornwall. The Ed Lumley Arena was #150 for me. Cornwall's coach is Grant Cooper, who played four years at Clarkson (2017-21) after five years with his hometown Cornwall (2012-17). After Clarkson, he played for Reading, Penna., of the ECHL in 2021-22, which is the same year that my friend Dartmouth Doug's son Cam played at Reading.
On Friday, at Alfond Sports Arena in Orono, Me., Mike Harder stopped and visited briefly with me, during his usual pre-game arena walk. He continues to be very down-to-earth and open. On both Friday and Saturday, Alfond was listed as 'sold out,' which apparently is 4,980. It was definitely rockin' both nights.
On Sunday afternoon, on my way home, I watched D-3 Norwich University play an exhibition game at Dartmouth College in Hanover, N.H. Admission was free at Thompson Arena, which is good as it was not competitive college hockey with Dartmouth winning 6-0. But it was a good break from driving the backroads, and I texted Dartmouth Cam a picture of the arena's brand-new Jumbotron.
Finally, I realize that the new NCAA Percentage Index will change a million times between now and the 16-team Tournament Selection Show. Still, I would rather follow it than the subjective polls. Here is how Colgate and its 11 ECAC and 6 non-conference opponents are NPI ranked today, with their current records. It gets more real this weekend as the Ivies begin their official seasons.
NCAA Percentage Index (NPI) – Colgate & 2025-26 Opponents, as of October 27:
#7 Michigan State, 5-1-0
#10 Union, 4-0-1
#15 Quinnipiac, 5-2-1
#18 Boston University, 3-3-1
#26 Colgate, 2-3-1
#28 Canisius, 5-4-0
#33 Maine, 3-2-1
#34 New Hampshire, 2-3-0
#35 Brown, 0-0-0
#36 Cornell, 0-0-0
#37 Dartmouth, 0-0-0
#38 Harvard, 0-0-0
#39 Princeton, 0-0-0
#40 Yale, 0-0-0
#41 RIT, 3-2-0
#45 Clarkson, 2-4-0
#60 Saint Lawrence, 1-5-0
#61 RPI, 0-6-0
