Vermont girls hockey power rankings: BFA, Essex headline the field
More than a month since their first meeting, girls hockey heavyweights BFA-St. Albans and Essex are scheduled for the second of three regular-season games on Feb. 6 at Collins Perley Complex.
Can the Comets keep up their current pace and further cement their position at No. 1. Or will the Hornets make a case for the top spot?
Ahead of that anticipated showdown in Franklin County, here are my latest power rankings.
(Through games played 1/30)
1. BFA-St. Albans (11-1): The Comets reached a gaudy milestone on Saturday, the first Vermont high school girls hockey team to 300 wins. But, more important, BFA has once again positioned itself as the team to beat, with six shutouts and a unbeaten record against Vermont teams. Last ranking: 1
2. Essex (10-1): Clean sheets in half of their wins, the Hornets have also put the puck in the back of the net at a high rate this winter, averaging 5 goals a game. Senior standout Olivia Miller-Johnson reached 100 career points over the weekend. Last ranking: 2
3. Rice (10-1): The Green Knights bounced back from their first defeat of the season — a 2-0 loss at BFA — with arguably their best performance to date a 6-0 rout of Rutland on Wednesday. Last ranking: 3
4. Burlington-Colchester (9-2-1): A seven-game unbeaten streak came to a crashing halt on Wednesday night when Essex left Leddy Park with a 5-0 win over the Sealakers. BC has a couple more cracks against D-I's upper echelon programs in the upcoming week (see Games to Watch below). Last ranking: 5
5. Rutland (9-3-1): The high-powered Raiders were held scoreless for the first time this season in the 6-0 defeat to host Rice. Just a minor bump in the road for Rutland? Last ranking: 4
6. South Burlington (7-4-1): A 3-1 loss to Burlington-Colchester and a 2-0 setback to BFA-St. Albans keeps the Wolves on the outside of a top-five spot. Last ranking: 7
7. Middlebury (6-5): The Tigers ended a three-game slide with wins over Brattleboro and CVU. In four of six wins, Middlebury has scored at least four goals. Last ranking: 6
8. Stowe (5-5-1): After a one-goal defeat to BFA pushed their losing skid to five games, the Raiders forged a tie vs. Rutland and then pitched shutouts over CVU and North Country-Lyndon. Stowe seems to be trending in the right direction. Last ranking: 8
9. U-32 (8-4-1): The Raiders' current three-game winning streak includes their first two shutouts of the season. Last ranking: 9
10. Harwood (4-6-1): The Highlanders ended a five-goal losing streak by tying Woodstock and then doubling up Burr and Burton. Harwood's schedule has something to do with its mediocre record, the six defeats coming against BFA, Essex, Rice, Burlington-Colchester, Rutland and South Burlington. Last ranking: Bubble
On the bubble: Burr and Burton (6-6-1), North Country-Lyndon (6-6)
GAMES TO WATCH
BFA-St. Albans at Burlington/Colchester, 2:40 p.m. Saturday: The Sealakers need a bounce back. Can they pull the upset with BFA coming to Leddy?
Rice at Essex, 4:45 p.m. Saturday: The Green Knights and Hornets tangle for the first time since last year's D-I semifinals.
Burlington/Colchester at Rutland, 4 p.m. Wednesday: The Sealakers fell 4-2 to Rutland back in December. Can BC serve up some pay back at Spartan Arena?
Essex at BFA-St. Albans, 5:30 p.m. Wednesday: The state's best programs clash for the first time since BFA came away with the 2-1 victory in the Hanover tournament over the holidays.
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