Merrimack Releases 2011-12 home schedule

With star forward Stephane da Costa gone to the ranks of the NHL, many would imagine the year ahead to be a re-building year for Merrimack.

Not so. Consider it, instead, a re-stocking year.

Merrimack, which brings in a glut of young talent to replace da Costa and its talented exiting senior class, released its home schedule today. The slate features dates with Union and Army, as well as Connecticut.

The Warriors have home series with Northeastern, Maine, Providence and UNH scheduled in 2011-12.

Expect the rest of their schedule to be available within the next couple weeks. The entire home schedule is available below. It can also be viewed online here.

October
15	Sat	Army
21	Fri	Northeastern   *
22	Sat	Connecticut
November
4	Fri	Northeastern   *
December
3	Sat	Providence   *
7	Wed	Vermont   *
17	Sat	Union
January
13	Fri	Maine   *
14	Sat	Maine   *
20	Fri	New Hampshire   *
29	Sun	Providence   *
February
3	Fri	Boston U.   *
11	Sat	New Hampshire   *
18	Sat	Boston College   *
March
3	Sat	Massachusetts   *

USCHO polls released, and this time...nope, they're still ridiculous

North Dakota maintained its grasp on the number one spot in the country this week, with Boston College a close second. UNH came in at 7 in the latest release of the USCHO polls, with Merrimack dropping from fourth to ninth following a weekend sweep at the hands of Maine, which rose from 20th to 14th. BU came in one spot ahead of the Black Bears, at 13.

Yale was ranked third nationally, with Union - which has already clinched the ECAC - coming in fourth. Denver and Michigan tied for fifth.