LAKE PLACID, N.Y. --- Norwich University didn’t sweep all 20 first place votes in this week’s USCHO.Com division III men’s ice hockey poll, but that didn’t matter to the Cadets.  Norwich (21-2-1) shared four first place votes from the panel of 18 coaches and two hockey writers, but remained the nation’s top-ranked team.

Wisconsin-Eau Claire (19-4-2) earned two first place votes and finishes second this week, while Bowdoin (19-2-2) and St. Norbert (21-5-1) each earned a vote a piece.  The Polar Bears finished the week fourth, while the Knights are ranked fifth.  Oswego State (21-4-0) dropped one spot to third.

There was no change between numbers six through nine.  Hobart College (19-4-2) held down the sixth place spot, while Utica College (20-4-1) remained seventh.  Adrian College (21-1-3) kept its place at number eight, and Plattsburgh State (18-6-1) comes in at nine.

Williams College (15-6-3) moved up one place to 10^th in the weekly poll.

In other news, The Gridiron Club of Greater Boston recently announced the  20 semifinalists for the 13^th Joe Concannon Award, which recognizes the best American-born player in New England playing at the Division II or Division III level.

This year’s list is comprised of 16 forwards, three defensemen and one goaltender.

The NCAA Division III men's ice hockey national championships return to Lake Placid, N.Y. and the Olympic Center's famed 1980 Rink Herb Brooks Arena, March 15-16. The New York State Olympic Regional Development Authority (ORDA) and State University of New York College at Plattsburgh (SUNY Plattsburgh) are the co-hosts of the event.

The tournament will feature two semi-final games, on the first day, followed by the championship match-up on the second day. This will mark the fifth time in the past six years the national championships have been held in Lake Placid.

Media Advisory: Credential requests are now being accepted. To apply, please visit http://www.ncaa.com/media. All media attending the NCAA championship event must be credentialed. If you have any questions, please contact Jon Lundin, ORDA public relations, e-mail: jlundin@orda.org, Tel: 518-523-1655 ext. 5313.

-- ORDA --

Established in 1982, the New York State Olympic Regional Development Authority (ORDA) was created by the State of New York to manage the facilities used during the 1980 Olympic Winter Games at Lake Placid. ORDA operates Whiteface, Belleayre and Gore Mountain ski areas; the Olympic Sports Complex at Mt. Van Hoevenberg; the Olympic speedskating oval, Olympic jumping complex and Olympic arena. As host to international and national championships, the Authority has brought millions of athletes, spectator and participants to the region, resulting in significant economic development.