Jan 20, 2006 -- Fordham University jumped back into the top 10 ranks as the Rams moved up one stop from the last ranking period in today's new ACHA Division 3 rankings. Fordham did not play any games during the period of December 12 through Janaury 15th. The team faces a competitive schedule during the final ranking period, which includes matchups with Albany State and Fairfield. The team will have its work cut out for them as they face both of these Top 10 teams on consecutive nights in February. The team will play 7 games within the next 30 day ranking period.
1 Univ. of Pitt-Johnstown - last period ranking 1
2 Penn State Berks - last period ranking 2
3 Indiana University of PA - last ranking period 6
4 SUNY-Albany - last ranking period 5
5 Robert Morris University - last ranking period 8
6 Penn State Delco - last ranking period 7
7 Saint Vincent College - last ranking period 9
8 Fairfield University - last ranking period 6
9 California Univ. of PA - last ranking period 8
10 Fordham University - last ranking period 11
For those of you unfamiliar with it, the (ACHA) American Collegiate Hockey Association (ACHA) began as a men's collegiate club hockey league in 1992, and quickly grew to a league of over 150 teams in three men's divisions. The Women's Division was added in 2000, and currently boasts four divisions with over 300 teams from across the nation. Divisions are usually based on school size however over this past summer the MCHC approached the ACHA about waving the student population issue to guarantee entrance in the Division 3 level. An accord was met and now Fordham as well as a predominant numbers of other MCHC teams joined in the newly formed Atlantic conference this year. So now, not only is a league game important, it is now, in most instances consider an ACHA game as well and take on an even greater impact.
The ACHA ranking committee gathers information on the various teams from the four regions Atlantic - North - South - Pacific. Each region is ranked on a monthly basis with the top four ranked teams in each region at the end of February, meeting to play for a national championship. This season the championships will be held in Fort Myers Florida March 1-4.
