Given the fact that six Hockey East teams - Boston University, New Hampshire, Boston College, Northeastern, Vermont and Massachusetts - are somewhere in this week's national polls, this year's version of Hockey East proves that yet again, competitiveness is a hallmark of the league.

"Teams that were rated to be down in the lower echelon are as good as anybody in this league, and the teams in the upper echelon of our league are as good as anybody in nation," Boston University Coach Jack Parker said during today's Hockey East teleconference. "I would have to say that from a historical point this is the best league that we've ever had from top to bottom - vis-a-vis ourselves and vis-a-vis the rest of the nation, as well."

Maine Coach Tim Whitehead believed that the Black Bears' 2-1 win over Boston College exhibited that overall competitiveness.

"That was a great aspect of that game for our conference, recognizing that we were a team that had no points in league play, going against one of the top teams in the country," Whitehead said. "For us to beat them 2-1 does show a lot of competitiveness for our league. But, that is nothing new for Hockey East. We have had that in our league for many years, and it is just a reminder that we still have that. It is an indication that it is going to be another great season for the league."

During a teleconference today, several coaches (including BC Coach Jerry York, UMass-Lowell Coach Blaise McDonald and Merrimack Coach Mark Dennehy) were in agreement that from one to 10, Hockey East is at its strongest.

"It doesn't matter if you're rated down in the pack a little bit in this league because anybody can beat anybody," Parker said. "I think what separates this league, for a long, long time, from every other league is the fact is that it's so strong from top to bottom. What makes it different this year is that everybody is strong compared to the other leagues. We're in a situation where people ask me 'do you like your team?' and I tell them that I like our team a lot, but the problem is I like every other team in our league, too."

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On Monday, the St. Louis Blues sent former Maine goalie Ben Bishop back to its American Hockey League farm team in Peoria, Ill.

Bishop played in three games with the Blues this season, posting a 1-0-1 record, a 2.41 goals-against-average and a .917 save percentage. He also played in four games with the Rivermen, registering a 2-2-0 record, a .907 save percentage along with a 2.44 goal against average.

Of note: In his NHL debut Oct. 24 against Los Angeles, Bishop became the tallest goalie to play in the NHL at 6 foot 7.

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