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ECAC Power Rankings: Quinnipiac Rides Red Hot Start To Top of the Mountain

Quinnipiac and Yale will meet in a rematch of the 2013 NCAA Championship game at 7 p.m. on Saturday at HighPoint Solutions Arena in Hamden, Conn.

There has been plenty of reason to celebrate for the Quinnipiac University Bobcats this season.
There has been plenty of reason to celebrate for the Quinnipiac University Bobcats this season.
Justin K. Aller

Quinnipiac and Union were the only two ECAC teams to win both games on the weekend while Dartmouth and Princeton were the only teams to go winless. With no further ado, here is this week's ECAC Power Rankings compiled by Jeff Cox.

1. Quinnipiac (8-1-0) Rand Pecknold's Bobcats haven't lost since opening night against Alaska-Anchorage. Their top line is putting pucks in the back of the opposition's net right and left. Connor Jones scored his 100 career point over the weekend, and his brother Kellen is not far behind. Scary thought for opposing coaches is that Tampa Bay Lightning prospect and 2013 NCAA East Regional MVP Matthew Peca hasn't really begun to heat up yet.

Up Next: Brown (Fri 11/8), Yale (Sat 11/9)

2. RPI (5-2-1) The Engineers had a rough week, blowing a 3-0 lead to Harvard at home and having to settle for a draw. A few nights later RPI lost to the Crimson in Cambridge, but Seth Appert's team bounced back by pounding Dartmouth, 7-1. RPI is still playing without its star goaltender and last season's ECAC Rookie of the Year Jason Kasdorf who is out due to injury. Ryan Haggerty and Brock Higgs are offensive catalysts that will continue to wreak havoc on the opposition.

Up Next: Cornell (Fri 11/8), Colgate (Sat 11/9)

3. Union (3-2-2) The Dutchmen were one of just two teams to be perfect on the opening weekend of league play in the ECAC. Rick Bennett's team walloped Dartmouth on Friday, but needed a rally to defeat Harvard the next night. Trailing 2-0, Union scored four consecutive goals for the victory. Goaltender Colin Stevens returned from injury, picking up the victory both nights. Senior forward Daniel Carr tallied two goals on the weekend - making him the all-time leader in goals scored in Union program history.

Up Next: Colgate (Fri 11/8), Cornell (Sat 11/9)

4. Clarkson (7-2-1) The Golden Knights finally saw their unbeaten streak come to an end at Yale, but not before a nice last minute victory over Brown the night before. Clarkson will have to get back to basics and concentrate on the defensive zone more this week against Dartmouth and Harvard.

Up Next: at Dartmouth (Fri 11/8), at Harvard (Sat 11/9)

5. Cornell (3-1-0) The Big Red's sweep of Nebraska-Omaha is looking more impressive after UNO swept Denver this past weekend. Cornell downed Princeton before succumbing to red-hot Quinnipiac on Saturday night. Edmonton Oilers prospect John McCarron is pacing the offense with a goal and six assists.

Up Next: at RPI (Fri 11/8), at Union (Sat 11/9)

6. Yale (2-1-1) Keith Allain's team had to settle for a tie with St. Lawrence on the night Yale raised its 2013 NCAA Championship banner. The next night the Bulldogs helped snap Clarkson's six game unbeaten streak. One of Yale's expected big weapons offensively, Kenny Agostino, has been held to just two assists so far.

Up Next: at Princeton (Fri 11/8), at Quinnipiac (Sat 11/9)

7. Harvard (2-1-1) Ted Donato has to be pleased with his team's start after a few years of underachieving. Some of the freshmen - particularly Sean Malone and Alex Kerfoot - look good. Raphael Girard has yet to give up a goal in two starts. He'll be tested Friday night when Greg Carey and St. Lawrence pay a visit to Bright Arena.

Up Next: St. Lawrence (Fri 11/8), Clarkson (Sat 11/9)

8. St. Lawrence (4-2-2) The Saints can certainly score, but the question all season will be if Greg Carvel's team can keep the puck out of the back of its own net. Greg Carey and his brother Matt continue to pace the offense. Senior goalie Matt Weninger is streaky, but can make the key save. Picking up two points on a trip that had the Saints facing Yale and Brown is certainly not disastrous.

Up Next: at Harvard (Fri 11/8), at Dartmouth (Sat 11/9)

9. Brown (2-1-1) After a terrific start to the season at the Liberty Hockey Invitational the friendly confines of Meehan Auditorium didn't do the Bears well. Brendan Whittet's team went 0-1-1 against Clarkson and St. Lawrence on the weekend. Brown's top offensive line - consisting of Matt Lorito, Mark Naciero and Nick Lappin - will score, but the depth and goaltending remain a concern for the Bears.

Up Next: at Quinnipiac (Fri 11/8), at Princeton (Sat 11/9)

10. Colgate (3-5-1) The Raiders were shellacked by Quinnipiac on Friday night, but bounced back for a 3-1 win over Princeton a night later. Don Vaughn's team has been outscored 32-20 on the season. A tough test awaits Colgate this weekend with a trip to the Capitol District to face two of the better teams in the ECAC, Union and RPI.

Up Next: at Union (Fri 11/8), at RPI (Sat 11/9)

11. Princeton (1-3-0) Scoring two goals per game while giving up four goals per game is no recipe for success. Andrew Calof, the team's offensive leader, has yet to find the back of the net, but he does have three assists. Things won't get much easier for Bob Prier's team this weekend.

Up Next: Yale (Fri 11/8), Brown (Sat 11/9)

12. Dartmouth (0-4-0) Simply put, last weekend was not fun for the Big Green. Bob Gaudet's team got outscored 14-3 on the weekend. Dartmouth is the only league team to be winless. The Big Green are young and the team could always improve, but right now things are looking down right abysmal in Hanover.

Up Next: Clarkson (Fri 11/8), St. Lawrence (Sat 11/9)

Jeff Cox covers college and junior hockey, NCAA recruiting, NHL Draft prospects and the AHL for SBNation. Follow him on twitter @JeffCoxSBNation.