INSIDE HOCKEY

For the second straight week, there’s a new top dog on the list. Two players return to the top 10 after a week on the bubble and two break into the top 10 for the first time. Meanwhile, there’s plenty of shuffling around among the regular customers.

Without further ado, here is the list for November 25, 2009.

10) Casey Wellman, Sophomore F, Massachusetts –– After leading all Hockey East freshmen with 33 points last season, Wellman is off to a torrid start in his sophomore campaign. He makes his first appearance in the Hobey Watch following his three-goal, one-assist performance in a 6-2 win at No. 18 Vermont on Tuesday night. He is now tied for seventh in the nation with 18 points (9 goals, 9 assists).

9) Brendan Smith, Junior D, Wisconsin –– Smith also cracks the top 10 for the first time after accruing a goal and two assists in a weekend split with St. Cloud State. His 13 points (3 G, 10 A) are good for first on the No. 15 Badgers and third in the nation among defensemen. Smith and the Badgers face two tough challenges this weekend with games at No. 7/8 Michigan State and Michigan.

8) Bill Sweatt, Senior F, Colorado College –– After a brief stint on the bubble, Sweatt returns to the top 10 thanks to his two-goal, two-assist outpouring in the No. 5 Tigers’ weekend sweep of Robert Morris. He now ranks fifth in the nation with 19 points (8 G, 11 A), and his 1.58 points per game average is good for sixth.

7) Chay Genoway, Senior D, North Dakota –– Genoway’s absence from the lineup due to a head injury was certainly noticeable this weekend as the No. 4 Fighting Sioux were swept by No. 2 Denver. Although it’s admittedly unfair to drop a guy who’s injured, Genoway slides a few spots simply because so many other players had great weekends.

6) Matt Read, Junior F, Bemidji State –– Like Sweatt, Read is back on the list after a one-week hiatus. Read tallied two goals and three assist in the No. 6 Beavers’ weekend sweep of Alabama-Huntsville and is now tied for third in the country with 20 points (10 G, 10 A). He’s the biggest reason Bemidji already has a nine-point lead in the CHA standings.

5) Cody Reichard, Sophomore G, Miami –– Reichard recorded his first shutout of the season on Friday night, saving all 15 shots Western Michigan threw at him to remain undefeated this season (8-0-2). He ranks second in the nation in goals-against average (1.45) and third in save percentage (.936). It’s worth noting however, that Enrico Blasi appears to have brought back the rotation with fellow sophomore Connor Knapp, who missed some time earlier this season with an illness.

4) Justin Fontaine, Junior F, Minnesota-Duluth –– Fontaine notched two assists in the No. 13/14 Bulldogs’ sweep of Minnesota over the weekend. His 20 points are good for third (tie) in the country, and his 11 goals are good for second. Somewhat troubling however, is the fact that Fontaine has been held without a goal in three of the last four weekends.

The Hat Trick

3) Jack Connolly, Sophomore F, Minnesota-Duluth –– Three goals against the Gophers were enough to keep Connolly in a first-place tie for the national lead in points. His 10 goals and 11 assists make him one of just two players to have double-digit totals in both (Read being the other). With Fontaine at one wing and Rob Bordson (3-16-19) at the other, Connolly’s line continues to be the best in the country.

2) James Marcou, Junior F, Massachusetts –– Marcou dished out a career-high five helpers Tuesday against Vermont, giving him sole possession of the nation’s assists lead (17) and points per game lead (1.91) and moving him into a first-place tie for points (21). He already has three playmakers in just 11 games this season and is the biggest reason the Minutemen are currently a top 10 team.

1) Marc Cheverie, Junior G, Denver –– After missing three games due to a gash in his leg that required 30-plus stitches, Cheverie made a triumphant return this weekend, saving 58 of the 60 shots he faced in the Pioneers’ sweep of North Dakota. He’s now 6-0-0 this season with a ridiculous four shutouts. Let that sink in –– four shutouts in six games. Also ridiculous are his 1.19 goals-against average and .961 save percentage, both of which put him well ahead of the field.

On the bubble: Bobby Butler (Senior F, New Hampshire), Stephane Da Costa (Freshman F, Merrimack), Blake Gallagher (Senior F, Cornell), Dan Ringwald (Senior D, RIT), Dan Bakala (Sophomore G, Bemidji State).