Brown is currently tied for first (with Harvard) in the ECAC, after a four-point weekend in New York. Although with only slightly over one third of the season played any predictions are premature, the Bears appear to be a stronger team than the experts expected, and a top four finish is not out of the question. Brown played an excellent game against RPI, a team that in terms of raw talent is arguably the best in the ECAC. I was very impressed with RPI. The Engineers have an awesome combination of size, skill AND speed, plus first-rate goaltending. And yet the Bears, which match the Engineers in terms of speed, but are considerably smaller, were able to control long portions of the match with precise passing and tenacious forechecking. To sum up my rambling comments: 1. RPI is definitely one of the best teams in the nation. 2. As was the case last year, Brown is a better team than it is given credit for. 3. The Brown-RPI game was as good as college hockey gets. I didn't see the Brown-Union game, but I was glad that after two overtime losses (to Harvard and Colgate) and two overtime ties (against Harvard and Providence), Brown finally got an overtime win. And I was particularly happy the overtime goal against Union (as was the case with the winning goal against RPI) was scored by Erich Trach, a guy who works so hard all the time, but who was having little success scoring. If you pardon the pun, I hope Erich has finally gotten untracked. Scores: Brown 5 at RPI 3 Brown 6 at Union 5 (OT)