A new No. 1: Ranking the top 10 New England college hockey teams

The first two weeks of the Division 1 men’s college hockey season have offered plenty of excitement around New England.

While reigning Frozen Four participant Boston University entered the season as the No. 1 team in the country, the Terriers have slipped in the early going and made way for a new club in the top spot of both the national and our local rankings.

Four of the teams that have seen action so far are undefeated, while one is still a week away from taking the ice in the Ivy League.

Here is New England Hockey Journal’s latest look at the top teams in the region in power ranking form:

1. Boston College (2-0, 0-0 HEA)

The Eagles spoiled Quinnipiac’s national championship banner night with a Cutter Gauthier overtime goal last Saturday before beating Long Island University, 4-2, for their second win in as many weekends this past Friday. Bruins prospect Andre Gasseau has scored in each game — once shorthanded and once on the power play — and added an assist during the comeback against LIU. The team’s stellar freshman class has also contributed greatly, with Jacob Fowler earning both victories between the pipes and defenseman Drew Fortescue netting the tying goal in the most recent game.

2. Quinnipiac (2-1, 0-0 ECAC)

The Bobcats bounced back from their season-opening overtime loss to Boston College in a major way, sweeping American International 3-2 (OT) and 8-0. Frozen Four hero Jacob Quillan scored the deciding goal in the series opener and finished the weekend with four assists, while junior Colin Graf (Lincoln, Mass.) put up five points the following night in his return from an injury suffered against BC. Strong defense has continued to be a hallmark of Quinnipiac as it has allowed only 19 shots per game to reach the strong goaltending duo of BU transfer Vinny Duplessis and freshman Matej Marinov, who earned his first career shutout Saturday.

3. Boston University (1-1, 0-1 HEA)

After needing an extra session to beat Bentley last Saturday, the Terriers slipped from their No. 1 pedestal following a 6-4 Friday loss to New Hampshire to begin Hockey East play. Freshman sensation Macklin Celebrini registered his first two-goal game and now has four points through two contests, but BU will need to find better all-around play — from Brown transfer Mathieu Caron in goal on out — if it wants to reach the same postseason heights that it did a year ago. At UNH, second-year coach Jay Pandolfo’s (Burlington, Mass.) club was outshot 35-24 and allowed two goals on the power play and one shorthanded. The road won’t get easier with a two-game trip to Notre Dame upcoming.

4. Providence (2-1, 0-0 HEA)

The Friars could also be in the undefeated club if a three-goal comeback in the third period didn’t fall one short on Sunday of their opening series at Michigan. Ten different players have scored goals so far this season, including seven in Saturday’s dominant 7-1 win over Stonehill. A key playmaker from the back end, Luke Krys (Ridgefield, Conn.), has transferred across the city from Brown and posted a team-high five assists through the opening three games. Philip Svedeback has been the man in goal again to start his sophomore year.

5. Northeastern (2-0, 0-0 HEA)

Even with wins over Stonehill and Bentley, the Huskies likely learned more from the exhibition shootout victory over Quinnipiac that came in between as they showcased a hard-nosed style of play. Captain Justin Hryckowian and standout sophomore defenseman Hunter McDonald both missed Saturday’s 5-2 win over Bentley, but Northeastern still posted a 33-21 shot advantage as graduate transfers Liam Walsh and Pito Walton both scored their second goals in as many games. Freshman Cameron Whitehead has looked steady in net, playing both regular-season games and two periods against Quinnipiac.

6. Merrimack (0-2, 0-0 HEA)

The Warriors came up on the short end of 1-0 (OT) and 4-2 scores at Arizona State, playing both games without offensive leader Alex Jefferies (Lunenburg, Mass.) and key defenseman Mike Brown (Belmont, Mass.). The strong goalie duo continued, with senior Zachary Borgiel making 30 saves in the overtime loss and Hugo Ollas stopping 27 shots the following night as Merrimack let a third-period lead slip. Junior Matt Copponi (Mansfield, Mass.) scored the go-ahead goal after being assessed a major in Friday’s first period. Don’t forget, this team played to overtime for the Hockey East title last year and will be dangerous with its full lineup and at 5-on-5. Two of the three goals Ollas allowed were on the power play.

7. Harvard (0-0, 0-0 ECAC)

A 24-win team a season ago, the Crimson has major holes to fill after all of its top four scorers graduated or departed for the NHL ranks, but 20th-year coach Ted Donato (Dedham, Mass.) continues to bring in talented classes. Sophomore Joe Miller is the team’s top returnee following a 13-goal, 28-point freshman year that was worthy of ECAC Hockey All-Rookie honors. Senior Derek Mullahy (Scituate, Mass.) and Finnish sophomore Aku Koskenvuo bring experience back to the net. Harvard opens Oct. 27 at Dartmouth.

8. Maine (2-0, 0-0 HEA)

As their rebuild continues under third-year coach Ben Barr, the Black Bears showed no reason why they can’t be Hockey East’s surprise team during their season-opening sweep of RPI in Orono. Maine overcame an early deficit in Friday’s 4-1 win as Carolina first-round draft pick Bradly Nadeau scored his first two collegiate goals in the second period, while freshman classmate and brother Josh Nadeau tallied twice on the power play in a 6-3 Saturday decision. The defense was stout in front of returning Hockey East All-Star goalie Victor Ostman, allowing no more than 19 shots in either game.

9. Holy Cross (3-0, 0-0 AHA)

The Crusaders made a strong statement entering Atlantic Hockey play, opening the campaign with a win over Long Island before pulling off 2-1 and 2-0 victories for a home-and-home sweep of then-No. 20 UConn this past weekend. An All-AHA returnee, senior Jack Ricketts scored on both nights against the Huskies and has piled up a team-high four points through the first three games. Several Crusaders players have already scored goals, including Jack Stockfish whose first collegiate tally opened the scoring on Saturday. Jason Grande, who pitched a 28-save shutout to cap the latest series, has allowed just one even-strength goal so far this season.

10. Massachusetts (2-1, 0-0 HEA)

The Minutemen, who beat local rival American International in their season opener, dropped a 7-2 Friday decision to Michigan before a 6-3 Saturday win in which they mounted a six-goal, third-period comeback. Freshman Jack Musa opened the year with a goal before dishing out five assists against the Wolverines, including three in the victory. Junior defenseman Ryan Ufko has five points, while Bentley transfer Lucas Vanroboys and junior Scott Morrow (Darien, Conn.) have netted two goals each. After Cole Brady started two games, freshman Michael Hrabal — a second-round draft pick of Arizona this summer — earned his first career win Saturday. Another expected factor is Bruins center prospect Dans Locmelis, who has yet to debut.