| No. |
Team |
|
Of
Note |
| 1. |
 Minnesota |
– |
The Gophers
series at BU's two rinks includes something old and something
new. But nothing, as far as we know, that's either borrowed
or blue. |
| 16-4-0
(9-3-0 WCHA). LAST TWO WEEKS: W vs. Merrimack, 6-2; W vs. Northern
Michigan, 4-1; W at Boston University, 2-1. THIS WEEK: at Boston
University, vs. Colorado College, vs. Colorado College. |
| 2. |
 Colorado
College |
– |
This weekend's
CC-Minnesota series is so exciting, it can't start on a workday.
So it'll be Saturday-Sunday instead. |
| 16-3-1
(9-3-0 WCHA). LAST WEEK: W vs. Miami, 4-3; T at Ohio State,
2-2 ot (won shootout). THIS WEEK: at Minnesota, at Minnesota. |
| 3. |
 Boston
College |
 2 |
Remember
the Eagles' light first-half schedule? Time to play catch-up,
with five games in the next 13 days. |
| 9-3-3
(4-1-3 Hockey East). LAST WEEK: W vs. Cornell, 4-2; W vs. St.
Cloud State, 2-1 2ot. THIS WEEK: at Merrimack, at Merrimack. |
| 4. |
 Michigan |
 1 |
Every Wolverine
opponent watching the World Juniors has a new scouting report
on Al Montoya: shoot early. |
| 14-5-1
(11-1-0 CCHA). LAST WEEK: W vs. Michigan Tech, 4-2; L vs. Michigan
State, 2-1 ot. THIS WEEK: vs. Western Michigan, at Western Michigan. |
| 5. |
 Denver |
2 |
Six wins
in Denver's nine-game unbeaten streak have been by three goals
or more. And what's this? Michigan Tech coming to town ... |
| 13-5-1
(8-3-1 WCHA). LAST WEEK: W vs. Air Force, 9-4; W vs. Northeastern,
4-0. THIS WEEK: vs. Michigan Tech, vs. Michigan Tech. |
| 6. |
 New
Hampshire |
– |
Green with
envy: Michigan State has accounted for half of UNH's four losses. |
| 12-4-2
(6-1-1 Hockey East). LAST WEEK: L vs. Michigan State, 4-3 ot;
W vs. Michigan Tech, 4-3. THIS WEEK: at Providence, vs. Providence. |
| 7. |
 Wisconsin |
3 |
Badger
Showdown or Badger No-Show? Bucky struggles to tie ECACHL cellar-dweller
Yale and loses to Ferris State, tied for last in the CCHA. |
| 13-6-1
(10-4-0 WCHA). LAST WEEK: T vs. Yale, 1-1 ot (won shootout);
L vs. Ferris State, 5-3. THIS WEEK: at St. Cloud State, at St.
Cloud State. |
| 8. |
 North
Dakota |
– |
Drew Stafford
gave the home crowd something to cheer about as one of the top
performers for Team USA. |
| 13-7-2
(9-6-1 WCHA). LAST WEEK: Off. THIS WEEK: vs. Minnesota State,
vs. Minnesota State. |
| 9. |
 Cornell |
2 |
Win over
Maine was Cornell's first away from Lynah Rink this season,
a feat they hope to repeat at Brown and Harvard this weekend. |
| 8-3-2
(4-1-1 ECACHL). LAST WEEK: L vs. Boston College, 4-2; W vs.
Maine, 4-3. THIS WEEK: at Brown, at Harvard. |
| 10. |
 Colgate |
1 |
Stay home
for the holidays next year. The Raiders are 2-9-1 at holiday
tournaments over the last five years. |
| 13-5-0
(5-1-0 ECACHL). LAST WEEK: L vs. Northeastern, 5-1; W vs. Air
Force, 3-0. THIS WEEK: at Harvard, at Brown. |
| 11. |
 Harvard |
1 |
Perfect
non-league record was ruined in Minnesota. Now the Crimson must
focus on the ECACHL with Colgate and Cornell coming to town.
|
| 9-4-2
(6-3-1 ECACHL). LAST WEEK: T vs. Northern Michigan, 0-0 ot (lost
shootout); L vs. Merrimack, 6-4. THIS WEEK: vs. Colgate, vs.
Cornell. |
| 12. |
 Ohio
State |
2 |
Not that
any USA Hockey officials were paying attention, but WJC candidate
Tom Fritsche had a goal and three assists in a win and tie at
the Ohio Hockey Classic. |
| 12-5-3
(9-2-1 CCHA). LAST WEEK: W vs. Minnesota State, 5-1; T vs. Colorado
College, 2-2 (lost shootout). THIS WEEK: vs. Alaska-Fairbanks,
vs. Alaska-Fairbanks. |
| 13. |
 Vermont |
– |
OK, raise
your hand if you thought that Friday's Union-Vermont game would
settle a second-place tie in the ECACHL standings. |
| 11-6-3
(5-1-2 ECACHL). LAST WEEK: W vs. Providence, 3-1; L at Dartmouth,
6-3. THIS WEEK: at Union, at Rensselaer. |
| 14. |
 Maine |
2 |
Black Bears
finished last in Florida, but they did that last year, too,
and still reached the NCAA title game. |
| 10-8-3
(6-3-1 Hockey East). LAST WEEK: T vs. St. Cloud State, 1-1 (lost
shootout); L vs. Cornell, 4-3. THIS WEEK: vs. U.S. Under-18
Team (Ex.), vs. Quinnipiac. |
| 15. |
 Boston
University |
– |
Boomer
Ewing's return softens the blow of Chris Bourque's injury at
the World Junior Championship. |
| 11-7-0
(8-1-0 Hockey East). LAST WEEK: W vs. Nebraska-Omaha, 4-1; L
vs. Minnesota, 2-1. THIS WEEK: vs. Minnesota, at Northeastern,
vs. U.S. Under-18 Team (Ex.). |
| 16. |
 Northern
Michigan |
– |
The Wildcats
head into the second half in third place in the CCHA despite
owning the league's 10th rated scoring offense (2.83 goals per
game). |
| 9-5-4
(7-3-2 CCHA). LAST WEEK: T vs. Harvard, 0-0 (won shootout);
L at Minnesota, 4-1. THIS WEEK: at Nebraska-Omaha, at Nebraska-Omaha. |
| 17. |
 UMass
Lowell |
2 |
Just when
the River Hawks seem poised to gather some much-needed Hockey
East points, they'll meet a UMass team that's won three in a
row for the first time this season. |
| 9-5-2
(0-5-2 Hockey East). LAST WEEK: W vs. Niagara, 5-2. THIS WEEK:
vs. Massachusetts, vs. Northeastern. |
| 18. |
 Brown |
2 |
Bears stretch
unbeaten streak to seven games with UConn tourney win, and Adam
D'Alba captures MVP honors. |
| 7-4-2
(4-3-2 ECACHL). LAST WEEK: W vs. Merrimack, 4-1; W vs. Holy
Cross, 5-2. THIS WEEK: vs. Cornell, vs. Colgate. |
| 19. |
 Michigan
State |
NR |
We're not
saying an overtime winner against Michigan is a big deal or
anything, but the first New Year baby in Lansing-area hospitals
might have been named "Colton." |
| 10-9-1
(5-7-0 CCHA). LAST WEEK: Off. NEXT GAME: Dec. 29 at Dartmouth
(Ledyard Classic). |
| 20. |
 Minnesota
Duluth |
3 |
Larry Bird
fans? The Bulldogs are 33rd in the nation in power play, penalty
kill and goals against per game. |
| 8-9-3
(6-7-1 WCHA). LAST WEEK: Off. THIS WEEK: vs. Alaska Anchorage,
vs. Alaska Anchorage. |
