Eric Maiwald writes about the superiority of this year's Maine Black Bears,
comparing them to the 1985 RPI champions.  While I am not suggesting that
Maine is necessarily a better team (not many college teams include BOTH an
Adam Oates and a Darren Puppa) in terms of the polls Maine has been more
dominant.  RPI didn't ascend to the #1 ranking in the polls (remember there was
no Times-Union poll back then) until late January.  Michigan State was the
consensus #1 team for the early part of the season.It is also interesting to
remember that RPI never faced Michigan State, thanks to Chris Terreri.
 
Maine, to date, is head and shoulders above everyone, both competively and
statistically.  Further it is astonishing to see a #1 team play so many other
top 10 teams, especially NC, and to emerge with its record unscathed.  Time
will tell whether Maine can duplicate the record of RPI, but poll-wise, they
have already established a new standard.
                    _
            "NYS   // Hockey"
        Go 'Gate  //   Brian Morris
          Go RPI //      Albany, NY
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