PLATTSBURGH — There are 78 teams in NCAA Division III men's hockey.

Three of the top seven teams in the country, according to the most recent rankings, will take part in this weekend's annual PrimeLink Great Northern Shootout, being held at Middlebury College's Kenyon Arena.

Today's opening round has Plattsburgh State opposing Norwich University at 4 p.m., followed by host Middlebury entertaining St. Thomas (Minn.) in the 7 p.m. contest.

Saturday's schedule has the third-place game at 4 p.m. and the championship contest at 7 p.m.

"Any four of the teams on paper and on the ice can win the tournament," said Plattsburgh State head coach Bob Emery. "I'm excited about the tournament, and I hope our players are."

The Cardinals, because of last year's runner-up finish to St. Norbert in the NCAA Division III Tournament championship game and a 6-0-1 overall start this season, are currently ranked No. 1 in the country.

Norwich, which advanced to the NCAA semifinals last year before losing to St. Norbert, and Middlebury are both 2-0 to begin the season and ranked No. 5 and No. 7, respectively, in the latest USCHO.com Division III Men's Poll.

St. Thomas, meanwhile, is this year's invitee from the West and has a 3-2-1 overall record. The Tommies are listed in the poll's "others receiving votes" category.

The four teams competing in the PrimeLink this year sport a combined 13-2-2 record.

Plattsburgh State, which recorded a 5-3 win over Norwich last season in the PrimeLink championship contest at Stafford Ice Arena, is coming off a 4-4 overtime tie at Potsdam.

After winning their first six games, the Cardinals had to rally from a 4-1 deficit late in the third period against the Bears to salvage the tie.

"I know, as a coach, that I learned a lot from the Potsdam game," Emery said. "It reiterated to me that you have to be ready mentally as well as physically to play.

"I'm not sure whether or not the players learned from that game. Time will tell."

The Cardinals are healthy entering the weekend.

"We're in pretty good shape," Emery said. "We'll see how it goes against Norwich."

Plattsburgh State

Cardinals

Overall record: 6-0-1.

Home: 3-0. Away: 3-0-1.

Goals for-goals against: 31-11.

Team results

Elmira W, 6-3

Fredonia W, 5-2

Buffalo State W, 4-2

at Morrisville W, 8-3

at Brockport W, 5-0

at Geneseo W, 5-0

at Potsdam T, 4-4

Leading scorers

Player g-a-pts

Nick Rolls, Sr. D 3-9-12

Dylan Clarke, So. F 6-5-11

Joey Wilson, Jr. F 6-4-10

Phil Farrow, Jr. F 3-6-9

Ryan Corry, So. D 2-6-8

Goaltending

Goalie w-l-t gaa

Bryan Hince, So. 6-0-1 1.98

Norwich University

Cadets

Overall record: 2-0

Home: 2-0. Away: 0-0.

Goals for-goals against: 10-5.

Team results

Southern Maine W, 4-2

Salem State W, 6-3

Leading scorers

Player g-a-pts

Nikita Kashirsky, Sr. F 2-6-8

Rico Piatelli, Sr. F 2-5-7

Eric Tallent, Jr. F 2-2-4

D.J. Fimiani, Jr. F 2-2-4

Chad Anderson, So. F 2-2-4

Goaltending

Goalie w-l-t gaa

Ryan Klingensmith, Jr. 2-0-0 2.41

David Thompson, Jr. 0-0-0 2.02

Middlebury College

Panthers

Overall record: 2-0.

Home: 2-0. Away: 0-0.

Goals for-goals against: 13-3.

Team results

Connecticut College W, 4-3

Tufts W, 9-0

Leading scorers

Player g-a-pts

Ken Suchoski, So. F 1-5-6

John Sullivan, Jr. F 4-1-5

Jamie McKenna, Sr. F 2-3-5

Mason Graddock, Sr. F 1-4-5

Goaltending

Goalie w-l-t gaa

Doug Raeder, Sr. 1-0-0 0.00

John Yanchek, Fr. 1-0-0 3.00

St. Thomas

Tommies

Overall record: 3-2-1.

Home: 2-0-1. Away: 1-2-0.

Goals for-goals against: 17-20.

Team results

Wisc.-Superior W, 3-1

St. Scholastica T, 3-3

at Wisc.-Eau Claire L, 0-6

at Wisc.-Steven Point L, 1-2

Augsburg W, 4-3

Augsburg W, 6-5

Leading scorers

Player g-a-pts

Andrew Kappers, So. F 1-5-6

Parker Burgess, Jr. F 3-2-5

Rob Johnson, So. F 2-3-5

Tom Knutson, Sr. F 2-3-5

John Jacques, Jr. D1-3-4

Alex Arnason, Jr. F0-4-4

Goaltending

Goalie w-l-t gaa

Tyler Chestnut, Jr. 2-2-1 3.22

Sean Deichert, So. 1-0-0 3.76