Release from http://www.goblackbears.com

January 13, 2003
Maine Tops Both Polls


ORONO, Maine-- The University of Maine men's ice hockey team is once
again the top-ranked team in both the USA Today/ AHM and the USCHO.com
polls announced today. The Black Bears were ranked third in both polls
last week. Maine received six first- place votes in the USA Today Poll
and finished with 239 points, one point ahead of Colorado College. The
Black Bears received 25 of the 40 first-place votes for 581 points in
the USCHO.com Poll. Colorado College is second with 544 points.
Colorado College, who was idle last weekend, is second in both polls
followed by North Dakota, who is third in both polls. The Fighting
Sioux were the top-ranked team last weekend but split a weekend series
with Minnesota.

Hockey East is well represented in the poll. New Hampshire is fifth in
both polls, followed by Boston College, who is eighth in the USCHO.com
Poll and ninth in the USA Today Poll. Boston University is 12th in both
polls.

The Black Bears, 18-2-2 on the season and 8-1-1 in Hockey East play,
put their number one ranking on the line this weekend when they travel
to North Andover, Mass. for a pair of games with Merrimack College. The
two teams play Friday and Saturday night at the Volpe Center at 7:00
p.m.