March 7, 2004
INCH Power Rankings

Like "ice cream" and "summer vacation," there's something magical about the words "playoff hockey." That's where we are now across the country, with the CHA set to crown its champion this weekend and the rest of the conferences just two weeks away.

Here's how the Inside College Hockey editors and staff rank the rest of the nation's top teams (along with movement since last week and a note). You can let us know what you think, including your name and hometown, and we'll share your thoughts below (some feedback may be edited).

No.	Team		Of Note
1.	North Dakota	1	Speaking of 4x4, the Sioux won all four regular season meetings with Michigan Tech by four-goal margins (8-4, 4-0, 5-1, 5-1).
26-6-3 (20-5-3 WCHA). LAST WEEK: W vs. Michigan Tech, 5-1; W vs. Michigan Tech, 5-1. THIS WEEK: vs. Michigan Tech (best of three).
2.	Maine	1	Black Bears have played second-fiddle to Boston College all year in Hockey East – until now.
26-7-3 (17-5-2 Hockey East). LAST WEEK: W vs. Boston College, 3-0; W vs. Boston College, 4-3 ot. THIS WEEK: vs. Merrimack (best of three).
3.	Boston College	2	Suddenly, everyone in Hockey East is playing better than the regular-season champion Eagles – including Northeastern, and their season is over.
26-6-4 (17-4-3 Hockey East). LAST WEEK: L at Maine, 3-0; L at Maine, 4-3 ot. THIS WEEK: vs. Boston University (best of three).
4.	Minnesota Duluth	1	Second-place finish in WCHA is the Bulldogs' best showing in the league since they won the MacNaughton Cup in 1993.
23-10-4 (19-7-2 WCHA). LAST WEEK: T at Wisconsin, 2-2; W at Wisconsin, 4-1. THIS WEEK: vs. Minnesota State (best of three).
5.	Denver	1	Pioneers run unbeaten streak to nine with sweep of Colorado College, but will have to march through playoffs without forward Connor James (broken leg).
23-10-5 (13-10-5 WCHA). LAST WEEK: W at Colorado College, 3-1; W vs. Colorado College, 3-2. THIS WEEK: vs. Colorado College (best of three).
6.	Wisconsin	2	"Meaningless" game with Minnesota Duluth Saturday featured a combined 44 penalties.
20-10-8 (14-7-7 WCHA). LAST WEEK: T vs. Minnesota Duluth, 2-2 ot; L vs. Minnesota Duluth, 4-1. THIS WEEK: vs. Alaska Anchorage (best of three).
7.	Minnesota	2	Sweep of St. Cloud State extends Gophers' unbeaten streak in March and April to 15 in a row.
22-13-3 (15-12-1 WCHA). LAST WEEK: W vs. St. Cloud State, 7-4; W vs. St. Cloud State, 4-2. THIS WEEK: vs. St. Cloud State (best of three).
8.	Michigan	1	Wolverines' late-season swoon (0-3-1) and their record away from Yost (6-9-2) don't bode well for the playoffs.
23-11-2 (18-8-2 CCHA). LAST WEEK: T at Michigan State, 4-4 ot; L vs. Michigan State, 1-0. THIS WEEK: vs. Nebraska-Omaha (best of three).
9.	Miami	1	Saturday's loss to Ohio State cost them the CCHA regular season title, but the RedHawks managed to post back-to-back, 20-win seasons for just the third time in school history.
20-12-4 (17-8-3 CCHA). LAST WEEK: W vs. Ohio State, 4-3 ot; L at Ohio State, 5-4. THIS WEEK: vs. Lake Superior (best of three).
10.	New Hampshire	2	Wildcats couldn't help former UNH star Bruce Crowder, whose Northeastern team missed the playoffs with BU's overtime win Saturday night.
18-12-6 (10-8-6 Hockey East). LAST WEEK: T at Boston University, 3-3 ot; L vs. Boston University, 4-3 ot. THIS WEEK: vs. Providence (best of three).
11.	Colgate	–	Most important accomplishment this weekend was "bye-ing" some time to heal defenseman Joey Mormina's broken finger.
19-10-5 (14-6-2 ECAC). LAST WEEK: Off. THIS WEEK: vs. St. Lawrence (best of three).
12.	Michigan State	2	The CCHA's hot team du jour, the Spartans are 6-1-1 in their last eight games.
21-15-2 (17-9-2 CCHA). LAST WEEK: T vs. Michigan, 4-4 ot; W vs. Michigan, 1-0. THIS WEEK: vs. Ferris State (best of three).
13.	Notre Dame	–	The Fighting Irish finished the regular season six games above .500, the team's best showing since going 20-14-2 in 1981-82.
18-12-4 (14-11-3 CCHA). LAST WEEK: L at Lake Superior State, 3-0; W at Lake Superior State, 2-1. THIS WEEK: vs. Western Michigan (best of three).
14.	Ohio State	1	Think Michigan fans are sending thank-you notes to Value City Arena this week? Ummm, no.
21-15-0 (16-12-0 CCHA). LAST WEEK: L at Miami, 4-3 ot; W vs. Miami, 5-4. THIS WEEK: vs. Bowling Green (best of three).
15.	Colorado College	3	The Tigers probably don't want to see their arch-rivals again right now. Bet they really won't like to see them skating at World Arena in a few weeks at the West Regional.
18-15-3 (11-15-2 WCHA). LAST WEEK: L vs. Denver, 3-1; L at Denver, 3-2. THIS WEEK: at Denver (best of three).
16.	Cornell	1	Expect tight games at Lynah this weekend. Cornell won the season series against Clarkson with a 2-1 win and 2-2 tie.
15-8-6 (13-6-3 ECAC). LAST WEEK: Off. THIS WEEK: vs. Clarkson (best of three).
17.	St. Cloud State	1	A six-game winless streak and a return trip to Mariucci can't fill Husky fans with optimism.
18-14-4 (12-12-4 WCHA). LAST WEEK: L at Minnesota, 7-4; L at Minnesota, 4-2. THIS WEEK: at Minnesota (best of three).
18.	Bemidji State	1	It was fitting that the CHA regular season champs welcomed former NHLer Joel Otto and his teammates on the 1984 NCAA Division II national championship team back to campus this weekend.
19-12-3 (15-3-1 CHA). LAST WEEK: L vs. Niagara, 4-1; W vs. Niagara, 5-0. THIS WEEK: vs. Findlay or Air Force (CHA Semifinals).
19.	Dartmouth	NR	Games can't end in ties in the playoffs, which opens up a whole new world for the Big Green.
12-8-9 (10-5-7 ECAC). LAST WEEK: Off. THIS WEEK: vs. Rensselaer (best of three).
20.	Rensselaer	NR	No style points needed in the playoffs, and RPI gets past last-place Princeton in ECAC opening round.
21-13-2 (13-8-1 ECAC). LAST WEEK: W vs. Princeton, 5-4; W vs. Princeton, 3-2 ot. THIS WEEK: at Dartmouth (best of three).

Dropped out: Massachusetts, Providence

Bubble-licious: Brown, Massachusetts, Providence, Northern Michigan

Feedback

Well congrats to the SIOUX for winning the MacNaughton Cup and showing the rest of the college hockey world whats in store for the playoffs. With the way everyone on the SIOUX team is playing right now it will be hard for anyone to beat them. They have a powerful offense with BO, Zach and Brady and their defense is not too bad either, I think they players block more shots then there goalies.

Well now that it is playoff season good luck to all teams and hopefully our boys could bring back number 8 to Grand Forks.

Ryan, Grand Forks, ND

All you guys in the midwest always seem to forget about Hockey East during all your inter-conference bickering, and yet we always seem to show up in the finals. B.C., Maine, and UNH all have the ingredients to beat the best in the league, including the Sioux. We just haven't had the opportunity to play em yet.

Eric Orono, Me

If Michigan gets to play its first round NCAA games in Michigan this year it will be an absolute joke. They don't deserve it. If you haven't played well enough during the regular season to recieve a #1 seed, why should you be allowed to play NCAA's virtually on home ice. Is it some how against the rules to ship them out of Michigan. Come on NCAA committee do the right thing and make them prove how good they are outside of Michigan.

Mike, Duluth, MN

Congrats to the Sioux. It's funny how a school of 10,000 in a town of
40,000 in a state of 500,000 can compete (and beat) the "Yankees" of college
hockey - such as the Gophers. The Gophs have everything going for them -
size of the school, the size of Mpls and Minnesota (2 million +), TV
contract, recruiting area and more. Plus, the Final Five and usually a NCAA
regional are thrown in for good measure in Mpls/St Paul, too.

The Sioux are only half way done. They need to play decent at the Final
Five and then make their run through the NCAA's. They have a high-speed
offense and a bruising defense. The main question is their goaltending.

It's nice to see the big fish in the pond struggle. However, as much as I
despise the Gophs, they can make a good run too. Regardless, it's been a
heck of a year in hockey's deepest and strongest conference - the WCHA.
Good luck to all WCHA (except the Gophs of course).

Phil, Fergus Falls, MN

Ryan on the frozen tundra of North Dakota, You my friend just jinxed your squad!! You must be humble my boy!! You also need to realize the team that has won the McNaughton cup the last ??? many years has choked in the "WCHA final five" and in the NCAA's. Congrats to your team. couldn't have done it with Parise, Bochenski, Brandt, Lundbohm, Smaby & Stafford!!! ALL Minnesota boys!! Nice job recruiting from the "Homeland" by Blais....another Minnesota native. My point is: Since you love the Sioux so much and most of your stars are from Minnesota.... will you route for the Minnesota Gophers if the Sioux lose??? I'm sure not......

Like I said last week... watch out for Maine out east!! I, unlike Ryan in Grand Forks think just about any of the top 8 seeds in this tournament can win it all this year.... I think you'll see Maine out of the east and ND, Duluth or Minn out of the west.

Did I mention to the Wisconsin bravado out there that there lil' red squad lost 3 of 4 points to Minn Duluth this past weekend?! Your boys have overachieved and given you lofty expectations.... be happy with that because they will be getting eliminated soon.. truly. Heres what I think of teams fan base:

North Dakota: Confidant in team, want's to make up from last years beating from Ferris State! Nervous if they have to play Minnesota in the NCAA's! Talented team!

UMD: Great season, matches up with anybody on small sheet of ice.... lack of post season experience may hurt them. Pesky team!

Wisconsin: Great defensive team! Great goaltending! Good coaching... not enough offense to go the distance... borrow Bochenski, Vanek & Savianno and your great!

Minnesota: Wierd year! Underachieved, goaltending has been suspect recently, alot of star power. not sure if we can just turn it on right now.

Denver: They seem to be a team that can mess things up for everybody right now! HOT HOT HOT!! I don't want to play them!!

CC: Na na na na... hey hey hey... goodbye........done

St. Cloud: A trip to Marriucci does not bode well.... call animal control because the Huskies are about to take another beating next weekend! WELL DONE FOR THE YEAR!

Mike (Lakeville,MN)

Congratulations to the Sioux for the WCHA McCup... you deserved it! I hope everyone notices that the WCHA has FIVE of the top SEVEN teams. If that's not a dominating conference, I'm not sure what is? What a great year for hockey with the return of the Badgers and the great games to watch this year.

Go Badgers, and good luck to the WCHA teams... let's get another championship for the best conference in college hockey!

Tim, Madison, WI

Why wouldnt UMaine be number one after a great season ending sweep against BC? And if not being number one in the poll, they SHOULD be number one in the Northeast bracket come the NCAA's tourney at Manchester since they try to put the teams according to location instead of having Maine fans have to go to New York at Albany. GO Black BEARS!!!!

thanks...

Tony Mollison, Ellsworth, Maine

It's time for the Bulldogs to eat up the competition in the WCHA tourney on their way to the NCAA Frozen Four. Go UMD Hockey!!!

Kyle, Minneapolis, MN

Season Tickets - $1000

Hot dog and drink - $5

Sweeping your arch-rival at their barn and winning back the Gold Pan at home (not to mention home ice for the play-offs) - Priceless!

Go DU!

Ray, Denver, Colorado

What a classic finish to the regular season for UND: MacNaughton Cup winners, no letdown the final night (unlike B.C.), and all 3 seniors finishing out their last regular season home game with goals....oh yeah, and their rightful #1 national ranking back in all 3 polls. If they aren't poster boys for hard work, hustle, and putting team before self I don't know who is. As was pointed out earlier by Ryan, they lay out the body better than any other team in the league and maybe the nation...from the 4th liners to the 1st liners. The true testament to that philosophy can be seen in having a two legitimate Hobey Baker candidates, the leading Rookie of the Year candidate, and goalies with top winning percentages (with the "#2" goalie right on the heels of the #1 goalie in most categories) and a #1 national ranking for 14-15 weeks of a grueling season when having the #1 strength of schedule to deal with.

As a person who has played, refereed, and coached I can honestly say that week in and week out the Sioux showcased hockey in it's purest form as I can only assume God meant it to be played (contrary to the egotistical belief of NHL players/owners...but that is another can of worms). There is no doubt as to why every kid who laces up skates for hundreds of miles around wants to play here (with or without the building....but let me quickly thank Ralph and his family again for the amazing gift he left hockey in the region) and the waiting list for season tickets grows and grows each year.

Hobey- Bochenski or Parise (Bo for tying for national points I believe, but doing it playing the hardest schedule of any of the other nominees with the exception of Parise obviously, Parise for what he brought to UND and TEAM USA this year. In true Hobey fashion he not only helped raise the level of play at UND he also raised the level of play on TEAM USA and brought home the gold this year showing he truly is maybe the most gifted player in college today even as a sophomore).

Rookie of the Year-Murray hands down. He not only had to step into the premier program in the nation, he had to keep up to 2 Hobey Baker candidates every day and every night in the toughest league in the nation this year. His numbers may not be the top of any single category, but his play and contribution in a very demanding situation that could easily have intimidated a lesser player was stellar. While some may say he benefited from playing with Bochenski/Parise (how could you not??), my response is you can only lead a horse to water...it's up to him to drink.

Thanks again boys for the great effort and example this year, best of luck for the "2nd Season"!!

Mike, Grand Forks, ND

Mike in NO DAK. Congratulations on the kiss of death award! The only achievement the SUE has reached is peaking 3 weeks too early! Sorry buddy but after your boys let you down in the WCHA tourney, your disappointment will only be exasperated by an early loss to an underestimated opponent in the first round of the only tourney that matters. And after all that, you will still have to wait another 2 months before you can put away your winter coat. Don't worry though you'll be talking ND hockey again as the snow flies the first week of September.

Mike in Lakeville, DU may not get it done, but unlike a couple of years ago they are not going into any tourneys as favorites and that favors them. They like the underdog role; they just play better when people overlook them. Thanks for the DU props.

Ray in Denver, Nice to know I'm not the only Pioneer fan! Go DU

Eric in Me. Your Bears are the only thing to fear out east. ECAC and Hockey East are a quivering shell of what they once were. The talent has shifted and your brain is still frozen with Mikes in NO DAK, only your summer won't reach you until July.

Ron, Aptos, CA

Mike in Lakeville, you must have forgot about last year because I believe that the Gophers won the McNaughton Cup and also won the NCAA. The point you are trying to make to everyone does not make sense because you don't know what you are talking about. Also it seems to me that you are a little bitter about all those MN boys coming to ND to play hockey. Well I will give you a couple of good reasons on why they do.
1. RICH TRADITION
2. GREAT COACH
3. BEST HOCKEY ARENA IN THE WORLD
4. THEY WANT TO WIN AND WHAT BETTER PLACE TO DO IT AT THEN HERE IN NORTH DAKOTA

How many Hockey East teams have you seen play? Prolly none. Not only is Maine one of the teams to beat out east but so is BC. BC is just like the Gophers, even though they had a rocky regular season they will turn it up during the post-season.

Ryan, in the frozen tundra of ND

To Ron...I would agree with you on the ECAC, but I will say that Hockey East, although not the best conference as it once was, is still and will continue to be highly competitive. College sports always cycle talent around...thats what makes it so great, but I still think that we can compete with all teams in the WCHA.

I think you will see that B.C. will be rejuvenated once Ben Eaves (a preseason Hobey favorite) gets back into form. Him and Tony Voce pack a solid one-two punch on offense.

Maine has the defense to shut down anyone, as they have proven against Minnesota, Wisconsin, and B.C. Like you said, they are the team to fear out East.

UNH can win games, but it all lies in the hands of G Mike Ayers. His .898 save percentage isn't gonna cut it come playoff time, but Steve Saviano is a sniper, and UNH can put up alot of goals in a hurry. Although not top-notch, they are certainly a sleeper....not to be taken lightly.

Come playoff time you can only speculate on outcomes, but I still think you underestimate B.C. and UNH. I might be eating my words in a few weeks, but oh well...thats why I'll never be an analyst for Inside College Hockey.

Good luck to all teams in their conference tournaments. It's going to be an exciting spring!

GO BLACK BEARS!

Eric, Orono, Me.

First, Ryan in ND, I wouldn't rip Mike in Lakeville for not getting his facts right because you obviously got them wrong. Minnesota DID NOT win the McNaughton Cup last year. They finished tied with MSU (technically 3rd because of tie-breakers), CC won the McNaughton Cup. Minnesota won the Broadmoor and the NCAA Championship, but no McNaughton Cup. Also, after finishing first in the WCHA, you probably have the toughest Final Five opponents (besides Michigan Tech). You play the winner of the play in game (which will probably be either Denver or Minnesota). Denver being one of the teams that are flying under the radar, and Minnesota, well, with basically home ice advantage in St. Paul. Have fun.

Any way here's to a great regular season, and what is going to be a great Final Five and NCAA tournament. Good Luck to all.

Mike - Duluth, MN

All the trash talk is getting old, entertaining but old! Ultimately it will boil down to "put up or shut up". As it's been said, anyone can beat anyone on any given weekend, and yes, that includes NoDak. Whoever is playing the best hockey in the play-offs will win, nothing more, nothing less. All it takes is one off night, which has been known to happen to each and every team this year, yes NoDak too, and the season is over. Time to get back to what this site is about and that would be rankings!
GO GOPHERS!

Gabby, Brooklyn Park, MN

Eric, do you not remember what happened the last two years when one of you Hockey East teams found themselves in the NCAA Championship?

Matt, Cottage Grove, MN

Ryan from No Dak, how quickly some people forget. Actually, last year CC won the McNaughton Cup. I think it's going to be an exciting NCAA tournament. BC, Maine, North Dakota, and Minnesota all could win it. Even thou I'm a gopher fan, its going to tough to beat BC in Boston at the Fleet Center if they reach the Frozen Four.

Chris, St. Paul, MN

Tundra man, Minnesota did not win the McNaughton cup last year, but finished 3rd. They won the tournament (both of them). I would show caution before making those "you dont know what you are talking about" jabs. In Minnesota we are used to our players leaving in the state to play. There are not enough roster spots for all the great talent, so Denver, ND, and even east coast teams benefit. In fact BC's captain this year is a Minnesotan. Yes Zach Parise was a loss.

BC is a team to watch, Maine too. ND is the team to beat in the WCHA. Who will be the 4th? Minnesota will struggle due to a freshman in the nets this year. Michigan showed it's true colors and wont contend. No ECAC talent this year.

Mike, Woodbury, MN On (temporary) location in Brazil

A lot of talk about the great UND team ... and how they did not "fold" at the end like Boston College ... let us not forget, BC had already clinched HEA and played its backup goaltender. Also, does anyone remember the split b/w BC and UND at the beginning of the year? BC loses the 1st game due a late game collapse - an early season problem that is long gone - and then won the 2nd. Let us also recall that said series was in ND, and BC - in a recurring theme for this season - won the 2nd game 2-1 w/out the best player in college hockey: Ben Eaves. With our 1st line together at last, and Matti back in net, the Eagles will win two more titles: The HEA tourney and the NCAAs (in boston). These will add to the titles BC has already won: Ice Breaker champs, Beanpot champs, HEA reg season champs. No one will stop the powerhouse this year.

John, BC

Ryan in North Dakota, First of all congrats on the regular season championship. Now that thats behind me I can move on to the fun stuff... You stated that I didn't make sense in my last posting because my facts were wrong... Well my friend on the frozen tundra you may indeed have brain freeze because I WAS correct... Colorado College won the McNaughton Cup last year for winning the regular season championship in the WCHA, I think your confusing that with the fact that Minnesota won the Broadmoor Trophy (post season WCHA championship)...

Mike (Lakeville, MN)

To both Mikes, That was my bad about the Gophers and I apologize for the wrong info. I will agree on you with this though, if any WCHA team makes it to the Championship game I will cheer for them.

Ryan, Grand Forks

Matt. You seem to forget a few things...

The past 9 years in college hockey:

At least one Hockey East team has been in the championship eight times
WCHA: six

Twice two Hockey East teams have comprised the championship game
WCHA: none

We have won four NCAA titles in that span
WCHA: 4

18 total Hockey East teams have appeared in the frozen 4
WCHA: 9

You can't deny the facts, and at least some people on this site give us the respect we give you guys.

Just remember: Maine 4, Minnesota 0. We did it once, and we can do it again. We will never make the mistake we made in 2002 ever again.

Eric, Orono, Me.

Hey BC John, did the backup goalie prevent the rest of the team from scoring one goal against Jimmy Howard on Friday night? Powerhouse?

Lincoln, New Hampshire

Mike, No one can deny the outstanding talent that comes out of MN each and every year, but if you are going to point out that a minnesotan is BC's captain don't forget that UM's captain is from grand forks, ND.

Brian, grand forks, ND

I've seen a lot of beautiful statistical analysis on this site that will show everyone who loves college hockey that Hockey East has faired better as a conference than any of the other conferences in the NCAA tournament. They've won more games as a conference and placed more teams in the frozen four over the last ten years or so. I wonder if this has anything to do with the NCAA splitting one region into two regions- the East and Northeast? While Hockey East's best gets split up to beat up on the other weakling conferences out East, the Midwest usually goes to a CCHA team (Michigan usually because they always get invited to the regional they host every year) and a WCHA team comes from the Midwest. The only excitement eminating from the two regionals out East is which permutation of BC, UNH, and Maine is going to the frozen four. So... if Hockey East fans insist on defending the strength of their conference on the basis of NCAA performance, they need to acknowledge that they are a beneficiary of a system that is biased towards the east coast schools.

Clint, Alexandria, VA

I traveled from New York on Sat morning to get to see what was a great U Maine team beat Boston College and with my daughter who is going to graduate this spring-- I for one am hoping that this will be a year that Maine goes all the way. We were treated to one of those special games that lived up to all the expectations. Go Black Bears !!!!!!!!!!

Gary Raymond, New York

John at BC, Why make excuses for the loss against ND when both teams just played hard and the each got a win. Since the game was in GF it is safe to say that you prolly did not attened the game. Well, I can tell you I was there for both games and I didn't see any "Late game collapse" all I saw was a very well played game between 2 teams and the better team came out with the win on Friday 6-4, and on the next night BC was the better team and won 2-1. I am not saying that BC is not good but their are some better teams out there like Wisconsin, Maine, UNH, Gophers, Michigan (alwasy scary just because they usually get home ice even if they play crappy throughout the year), ND, Duluth and Denver.

Also I don't think BC has the type of Schedule as some of the WCHA teams. Because as you can see of the top 5 teams ranked in the nation, 3 of them come from the WCHA.

Ryan, Grand Forks

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