The 2007-08 men’s hockey season was a rollercoaster ride for the Huskies. It started with an improbable, exhilarating climb to the top of Hockey East, coupled with an unfortunate and all-too-quick plunge back downward, capped off by the enjoyable loop of their exciting Hockey East playoff series against Vermont.

The peak of this particular rollercoaster was, of course, the Jan. 4 deconstruction of Maine. The 7-3 win ultimately put the cap on an astonishing 11-game streak during which the Huskies didn’t lose. From Saturday, Nov. 3, to that Friday night against Maine, Northeastern went 9-0-2, rising to the top of the Hockey East standings.

Thanks to this remarkable run, the national poll released the following Monday featured the Huskies in an almost unbelievable position – No. 7 in the country – proving to be the highlight of their season and, based on student votes, perhaps the 2007-08 Northeastern athletics season as a whole.

Seventh in the country: For a team that won only three games just two seasons ago, it seemed like an impossible accomplishment. The Huskies were the talk of the college hockey world. New heights deemed unreachable at the beginning of the season seemed almost probable.

For that brief moment, the Huskies were world-beaters. They secured two road wins against mighty New Hampshire and another at Boston College, who would go on to win the national championship. They had waltzed into Wisconsin and won the Badger Hockey Showdown at the end of December, leaving many fans feeling like the Huskies could do the same when February’s Beanpot rolled around.

“It was a good feeling around all the guys, around the school,” said sophomore goaltender Brad Thiessen. “That part of the year was pretty exciting.”

But the run couldn’t last forever, and the season’s second-half struggles undid the Husky surge as they finished at 16-18-3 (12-13-2 Hockey East).

But what about that sweet taste of success from Monday, Jan. 7, as the Huskies appeared at No. 7? No one can take that away from the Northeastern season. And what’s more: The team returns almost fully intact next season – a year wiser, older and stronger – so maybe Husky fans won’t have to wait long until they can savor that taste once again.

– Jonathan Raymond, News Staff