As we break for the holidays, it's time to take
a look at what everyone wants for Christmas. The teams in
the INCH Power Rankings may not have as much on their wish
list as those at the bottom of the standings, but nobody's
perfect – and we'll fill you in on what they might want.
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 |
|
Christmas
Wish |
| 1. |
 Wisconsin |
– |
Badgers wish for no second-half fade – or, in
the spirit of positive thinking, just more of the same
in Madison. |
| 14-2-2
(11-1-2 WCHA). LAST WEEK: W vs. U.S. Under-18 Team, 6-5
(Ex.). NEXT GAMES: Badger Hockey Showdown (vs. Western
Michigan, vs. Northern Michigan or Wayne State), Dec.
30-31. |
| 2. |
 Miami |
 1 |
The RedHawks have nothing to complain about, but improving
on their 46th-ranked power play could be on their wish
list. |
| 12-2-2
(10-1-1 CCHA). LAST WEEK: Off. NEXT GAMES: at Ohio Hockey
Classic, Columbus (vs. Rensselaer, vs. Holy Cross or Ohio
State), Dec. 29-30. |
| 3. |
 Vermont |
 1 |
Catamounts hope to see more green – like that
worn by all three teams in their holiday tournament –
than red – like that worn by the four teams to beat
them this season. |
| 11-4-1
(5-3-1 Hockey East). LAST WEEK: L vs. St. Lawrence, 2-1.
NEXT GAMES: Sheraton/TD Banknorth Tournament (vs. Dartmouth,
vs. Bemidji State or Clarkson), Dec. 30-31. |
| 4. |
 Minnesota |
– |
Wishing for a healthy, well-rested team ready to tackle
a three-week gauntlet of WCHA foes (North Dakota, Colorado
College, at Wisconsin) in January. |
| 9-5-4
(8-4-2 WCHA). LAST WEEK: Off. NEXT GAMES: Dodge Holiday
Classic (vs. Union, vs. Canisius or UMass Lowell), Dec.
29-30. |
| 5. |
 Michigan |
– |
The Wolverines may defer their wish until the off-season,
hoping top-flight freshmen Andrew Cogliano and Jack Johnson
return to A-squared for another year. |
| 11-5-1
(7-3-1 CCHA). LAST WEEK: Off. NEXT: at Great Lakes Invitational,
Detroit (vs. Colorado College, vs. Michigan State or Michigan
Tech), Dec. 29-30. |
| 6. |
 Colorado
College |
– |
With 41% of its points coming from Messrs. Sterling,
Sertich and Salcido, a sprinkling of timely scoring from
other sources (like that provided by sophomore Jimmy Kilpatrick
in Alaska) would be appreciated. |
| 15-6-1
(9-4-1 WCHA). LAST WEEK: W at Alaska Anchorage 5-4;, W
at Alaska Anchorage, 2-1 ot. NEXT: at Great Lakes Invitational,
Detroit (vs. Michigan, vs. Michigan State or Michigan
Tech), Dec. 29-30. |
| 7. |
 Maine |
– |
The Black Bears hope to make all of their news on the
sports pages in the second half. |
| 11-5-0
(5-4-0 Hockey East). LAST WEEK: Off. NEXT: at Florida
College Classic, Estero, Fla. (vs. Minnesota Duluth, vs.
Northeastern or Cornell), Dec. 27-28. |
| 8. |
 Boston
College |
– |
Eagles, 49th nationally in both power play and penalty
killing, hope Santa brings them something – anything
– special. |
| 9-4-1
(8-2-1 Hockey East). LAST WEEK: Off. NEXT GAMES: at Wells
Fargo Denver Cup (vs. Ferris State, vs. Denver or Princeton),
Dec. 30-31. |
| 9. |
 North
Dakota |
– |
A road map highlighting the intersection of Talent Ave.
and Maturity Street. Once the young Sioux learn how to
bring their best stuff on a nightly basis, they'll be
a very dangerous team. |
| 12-7-1
(6-6-0 WCHA). LAST WEEK: W at Bemidji State, 2-1;, W vs.
Bemidji State, 5-1. NEXT GAMES: vs. Harvard, Dec. 29-30. |
| 10. |
 Colgate
|
– |
Here's hoping that longtime assistant coach Stan
Moore doesn't share their secrets with his new staff
in Providence before Wednesday's game. |
| 10-2-3
(6-1-1 ECACHL). LAST WEEK: Off. THIS WEEK: at Providence
Holiday Tournament (at Providence, vs. Brown or Sacred
Heart), Wed.-Thurs. |
| 11. |
 Denver |
– |
Pioneers hope holiday wishes, like those of genies,
come in threes – as in three straight NCAA titles. |
| 11-7-2
(8-4-2 WCHA). LAST WEEK: W at Minnesota Duluth, 4-2;,
at Minnesota Duluth, 3-1. NEXT GAMES: Wells Fargo Denver
Cup (vs. Princeton, vs. Boston Coll. or Ferris State),
Dec. 30-31. |
| 12. |
 Clarkson
|
1 |
Fans wish for long collegiate playing careers for the
eight underclassmen that have been drafted by NHL teams. |
| 10-5-1
(5-2-1 ECACHL). LAST WEEK: Off. NEXT GAMES: at Sheraton/TD
Banknorth Tournament, Burlington, Vt. (vs. Bemidji State,
vs. Dartmouth or Vermont), Dec. 30-31. |
| 13. |
 New
Hampshire |
1 |
Wildcats hope there's some balance in Santa's sack.
The first line has accounted for exactly half of the team's
goals. |
| 9-6-3
(7-3-2 Hockey East). LAST WEEK: Off. NEXT GAME: vs. Niagara,
Dec. 30. |
| 14. |
 Cornell |
1 |
Wishes that sophomore defenseman Sasha Pokulok returns
from the WJC with the form that made him a first-round
draft pick. |
| 8-3-1
(5-2-1 ECACHL). LAST WEEK: Off. NEXT GAMES: at Florida
College Classic, Estero, Fla. (vs. Northeastern, vs. Maine
or Minnesota Duluth), Dec. 27-28. |
| 15. |
 St.
Lawrence |
2 |
The Saints hope to stay on Santa's "nice"
list even after the holidays. Only seven teams average
fewer penalty minutes per game. |
| 12-6-1
(6-3-0 ECACHL). LAST WEEK: W at Vermont, 2-1. NEXT GAME:
vs. Clarkson at Kanata, Ont., Jan. 7. |
| 16. |
 Harvard |
4 |
Consistent goaltending, whether it's provided by John
Daigneau or Justin Tobe, is at the top of Harvard's wish
list. |
| 9-5-1
(6-4-0 ECACHL). LAST WEEK: L at Dartmouth, 5-1. NEXT GAMES:
at North Dakota, Dec. 29-30. |
| 17. |
 Providence |
1 |
The Friars hope that if they get a pinch on the cheek
from an aunt this Christmas, they don't wake up and find
that the whole first half was a dream. |
| 9-6-1
(8-2-1 Hockey East). LAST WEEK: Off. THIS WEEK: Providence
Holiday Tournament (vs. Colgate, vs. Brown or Sacred Heart),
Wed.-Thurs. |
| 18. |
 Lake
Superior State |
– |
Just two goals a game. When the Lakers put crooked numbers
on the scoreboard, they're 10-1-3. |
| 10-6-4
(6-6-2 CCHA). LAST WEEK: W at Notre Dame, 4-0; L at Notre
Dame, 4-3. NEXT GAMES: at Bell Canada Varsity Cup (Ex.),
Thunder Bay, Ont. (at Lakehead, vs. Calgary, vs. St. Francis
Xavier), Dec. 28-30. |
| 19. |
 Ohio
State |
– |
Buckeyes want opposing teams to stop at two goals –
when they hit three, OSU is 0-5-0. |
| 9-6-2
(6-4-1 CCHA). LAST WEEK: Off. NEXT GAMES: Ohio Hockey
Classic, (vs. Holy Cross, vs. Miami or Rensselaer), Dec.
29-30. |
| 20. |
 Ferris
State |
NR |
Bulldogs hope someone keeps feeding the puck to sophomore
Matt Stefanishion, who boasts a Brett Hull-esque 9-1—10
scoring line in 17 games. |
| 8-6-4
(4-4-3 CCHA). LAST WEEK: Off; T vs. Lake Superior State,
2-2 ot. NEXT GAMES: at Wells Fargo Denver Cup (vs. Ferris
State, vs. Denver or Princeton), Dec. 30-31. |