After a topsy-turvy rankings session a week
ago, things were relatively stable as we head into Thanksgiving.
The top five teams in the INCH Power Rankings truly have something
to be thankful for, as they hold on to their spots.
Here's how the Inside College Hockey editors
and staff rank the nation's top teams (along with a note for
each team).
| No. |
Team |
|
Of
Note |
| 1. |
 Michigan |
– |
With ultra-talented Minnesota and Wisconsin visiting
Ann Arbor this weekend, is it any wonder why this annual
get-together is called the College Hockey Showcase? |
| 9-1-1
(5-1-1 CCHA). LAST WEEK: Off. THIS WEEK: vs. Minnesota,
vs. Wisconsin (College Hockey Showcase). |
| 2. |
 Wisconsin |
– |
No star system in Madison. Badgers coach Mike Eaves
held high-scoring Robbie Earl out of the lineup Saturday
for tardiness. Luckily for Bucky, Joe Pavelski picked
up the slack. |
| 9-1-2
(8-0-2 WCHA). LAST WEEK: W vs. Minnesota State, 2-1; W
vs. Minnesota State, 3-2. THIS WEEK: at Michigan State,
at Michigan. |
| 3. |
 Colorado
College |
– |
"I got mine, you get yours," say the Tiger
goalies as rookie Drew O'Connell and veteran Matt Zaba
post matching shutouts versus Michigan Tech – CC's
first back-to-back blankings since October 2002. |
| 11-2-1
(6-1-1 WCHA). LAST WEEK: W vs. Michigan Tech, 5-0; W vs.
Michigan Tech, 3-0. THIS WEEK: at Massachuetts, at Boston
University. |
| 4. |
 Maine |
– |
Seven Maine players were suspended for the exibition
game against the U.S. Under-18 Team, one for each goal
the Black Bears scored. | Newsstand |
| 9-3-0
(4-2-0 Hockey East). LAST WEEK: W vs. U.S. Under-18 Team,
7-2 (Ex.). THIS WEEK: vs. Vermont. |
| 5. |
 Vermont |
– |
Call it initiation – the No. 5 Catamounts are
still sixth in their league, but will make up ground as
they play more games. |
| 9-2-0
(3-2-0 Hockey East). LAST WEEK: W at Merrimack, 3-0. THIS
WEEK: vs. Massachusetts, at Maine. |
| 6. |
 Minnesota |
 2 |
Gophers tie and beat the defending champs by playing
"Chuck-O-Puck." Trailing late in the series
finale, Kris Chucko nets his first two goals of the season,
giving Goldy important pre-Showcase momentum. |
| 6-3-3
(6-2-2 WCHA). LAST WEEK: T at Denver, 3-3 ot; W at Denver,
4-3. THIS WEEK: at Michigan, at Michigan State. |
| 7. |
 Boston
College |
 1 |
Eagles special teams are in unlikely territory: 46th
nationally on the power play, 55th short-handed. |
| 5-3-1
(4-1-1 Hockey East). LAST WEEK: L vs. Harvard, 5-3; W
vs. Northeastern, 5-3. THIS WEEK: vs. Merrimack. |
| 8. |
 North
Dakota |
1 |
Concerns rise among the Sioux faithful as a lead disappears
late in a Friday loss, and Jordan Parise heroics are needed
to prevent another late rally by St. Cloud State on Saturday.
|
| 8-5-1
(4-4-0 WCHA). LAST WEEK: L at St. Cloud State, 3-2; W
at St. Cloud State, 3-2. THIS WEEK: at Michigan Tech,
at Michigan Tech. |
| 9. |
 Miami |
3 |
Anything you can do: Who wouldn't be impressed by sophomore
goalie Charlie Effinger's 1.47 GAA and .943 save percentage?
How about freshman teammate Jeff Zatkoff (1.34, .944)? |
| 7-2-1
(6-1-1 CCHA). LAST WEEK: T vs. Notre Dame, 2-2 ot; W vs.
Notre Dame, 3-0. THIS WEEK: vs. Bowling Green, at Bowling
Green. |
| 10. |
 New
Hampshire |
– |
Upcoming Northeastern game gets moved to Sunday, and
UNH inches just slightly closer to becoming known as a
football school. |
| 7-4-1
(6-2-0 Hockey East). LAST WEEK: W vs. UMass Lowell, 3-2;
L at UMass Lowell, 6-3. THIS WEEK: vs. Northeastern. |
| 11. |
 Harvard |
7 |
Tuesday's road win over Boston College is what caught
our eye. For Crimson alums, it was surely the triple-overtime
football win over Yale. |
| 6-2-0
(5-2-0 ECACHL). LAST WEEK: W at Boston College, 5-3; W
vs. Yale, 4-3 ot; W vs. Brown, 2-0. THIS WEEK: vs. Boston
University, at Clarkson, at St. Lawrence. |
| 12. |
 Colgate
|
4 |
Silver Puck Weekend is a lesser-known tradition
in college hockey, but the Raiders take it seriously.
Just ask Union, who got blanked, 5-0. |
| 7-2-2
(4-1-1 ECACHL). LAST WEEK: T vs. Rensselaer, 1-1 ot; W
vs. Union, 5-0. THIS WEEK: vs. Western Michigan, vs. Western
Michigan. |
| 13. |
 Denver |
2 |
Suddenly-vulnerable Pioneers take a four-game winless
streak – their longest since 2003 – to the
home of the Pilgrims on Thanksgiving weekend. Don't expect
BU or UMass fans to greet them with turkey and cranberries. |
| 5-5-2
(3-3-2 WCHA). LAST WEEK: T vs. Minnesota, 3-3 ot; L vs.
Minnesota, 4-3. THIS WEEK: at Boston University, at Massachusetts. |
| 14. |
 St.
Lawrence |
3 |
First-place St. Lawrence can be thankful that they haven't
faced travel partners Colgate and Cornell, or this weekend's
foes, Harvard and Dartmouth. |
| 9-3-0
(5-2-0 ECACHL). LAST WEEK: W vs. Quinnipiac, 6-5 ot; W
vs. Princeton, 3-2. THIS WEEK: vs. Dartmouth, vs. Harvard. |
| 15. |
 Alaska-Fairbanks |
– |
With more than two-thirds of the season remaining, the
Nanooks already have four road wins. UAF managed just
seven in 2004-05. |
| 5-3-2
(3-2-1 CCHA). LAST WEEK: L at Nebraska-Omaha, 4-2; W at
Nebraska-Omaha, 4-3. THIS WEEK: vs. Northern Michigan,
vs. Northern Michigan. |
| 16. |
 Clarkson
|
NR |
Seven players have 10 or more points through 12 games,
and highly-regarded sophomore Steve Zalewski isn't one
of them. |
| 8-3-1
(4-1-1 ECACHL). LAST WEEK: W vs. Princeton, 4-3 ot; W
vs. Quinnipiac, 4-3. THIS WEEK: vs. Harvard, vs. Dartmouth. |
| 17. |
 Cornell |
8 |
With just one goal in each of their last three games,
it's no wonder that the Big Red are 0-2-1 in that stretch. |
| 4-3-1
(3-2-1 ECACHL). LAST WEEK: L vs. Union, 2-1; T vs. Rensselaer,
1-1 ot. THIS WEEK: vs. Niagara, vs. Niagara. |
| 18. |
 Bemidji
State |
4 |
The Beavers are off this weekend, their third such break
since the start of the season. When did BSU join the Ivy
League? |
| 8-2-0
(3-1-0 CHA). LAST WEEK: L at Ferris State, 6-1; W at Ferris
State, 4-3. THIS WEEK: Off. |
| 19. |
 Providence
|
NR |
Tim Army put leading scorer Torry Gajda on the team's
top line with Jamie Carroll and Chase Watson against BU.
Gajda scored the opening goal. |
| 6-4-1
(6-2-1 Hockey East). LAST WEEK: W at Northeastern, 2-1
ot; T vs. Boston University, 2-2 ot. vs. Nebraska-Omaha
(Rensselaer Holiday Tournament). |
| 20. |
 Ferris
State |
NR |
The Bulldogs have scored 20 goals in their last four
games, led by senior Greg Rallo (4-5—9). |
| 5-3-4
(3-1-4 CCHA). LAST WEEK: W vs. Bemidji State, 6-1; L vs.
Bemidji State, 4-3. THIS WEEK: at Mercyhurst, at Mercyhurst. |