Men's ice hockey gets top ranking

The Norwich men's ice hockey team is starting off its 2010-11 season the way last season ended, on the top.

Norwich is atop the NCAA preseason Division III rankings, but according to the players, that has no meaning to them.

Players say it will be hard work in the weight room and at practice that will improve the team.

"Experience and having a big group of core guys back that knows what it takes to win always helps. They know it starts right when you come back from break. The freshmen read off that, and they know that we know what it takes to get there," said Chad Anderson, a 24-year-old biology major from Dartmouth, Nova Scotia.

The key for Norwich is to not pay attention to the number-one ranking and focus on getting better each day. Last year Norwich did not lose until January and players say talking about being undefeated may have gotten in their heads.

"We don't focus on the ranking. Last year we were undefeated late in the year and we were getting interviewed every day about it. We ended up losing that weekend, so we really don't try to concern ourselves with the ranking," said Blake Forkey, a 20-year-old biology major from Boca Raton, Fla.

Oswego State is ranked second, followed by St. Norbert and Plattsburgh State. Sitting at number five is Middlebury College, a fellow Vermont school, and arguably Norwich's biggest rival.

"It will be pretty good. We play Middlebury in two weeks, so it will be a battle between who will be the best team in Vermont," said Shawn Baker, 21, a criminal justice major from Mont-Laurier, Quebec.

According to Anderson, even if both teams were unranked the intensity of the rivalry would still be there.

"In all honesty, the rivalry has been going on for years now. We don't even need to be ranked to have a rivalry like that. Both teams are going to show up on that night and play hard no matter what," said Anderson.

The team that Forkey and Anderson both agreed is the toughest this year is Plattsburgh State.

"I know we won three games last year against them, and they definitely smell blood. They want to beat us, they got good some recruits, so they will be good competition," said Forkey.

Despite all the hype Norwich knows a number-one preseason ranking does not mean it will win the championship.

"It doesn't mean anything. We were ranked 15 last year and we won the title. It's cool, it looks good but it doesn't mean nothing if we don't win it all," said Baker.

"It's good, it means we have credibility. It's not even a ranking that goes toward a NCAA spot in the tourney. It's nice, but it means nothing. The key is to look at each game one at a time. That is all our focus is on right now," said Anderson.

Despite being the defending champions, Norwich was not the unanimous pick for the number-one ranking. Oswego State and Plattsburgh State both received first-place votes.

"We have the talent to win. We have four amazing lines, a good goalie and a solid defensive core. But if we don't work hard and play hard we will lose. All Division III teams are tough, so if you don't play hard every game you will lose no matter your ranking," said Baker.

Norwich opens up its national title defense with two home games on Nov. 19 and 20. The first game is against the University of New England at 7 p.m., followed by a 4 p.m. game Sunday evening against Southern Maine.