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. |
 Boston
College |
 1 |
Cory
Schneider's boost from World Juniors is evident, but
Dan Bertram seems to have gotten some jump since his return
as well. |
| 16-4-2
(14-2-1 Hockey East). LAST WEEK: W vs. Vermont, 2-0; W
vs. Vermont, 3-0. THIS WEEK: vs. Boston University, at
UMass Lowell. |
| 2. |
 Wisconsin |
 1 |
Kohl Center was weekend House of Horrors for Badger
fans, as icers lose twice and hoopsters find a way to
drop one versus North Dakota State. |
| 18-4-2
(13-3-2 WCHA). LAST WEEK: L vs. Denver, 1-0; L vs. Denver,
4-2. THIS WEEK: vs. Minnesota, vs. Minnesota. |
| 3. |
 Miami |
– |
Who's more popular in Oxford today – forward Nathan
Davis (four goals in a sweep of Western Michigan) or Super
Bowl-bound ex-RedHawk Ben Roethlisberger? |
| 17-4-4
(14-3-2 CCHA). LAST WEEK: W vs. Western Michigan, 6-1;
W vs. Western Michigan, 4-3. THIS WEEK: at Ferris State,
at Ferris State. |
| 4. |
 Minnesota |
– |
As impressive as winning nine out of 10 may be, holding
CC's potent offense to a season-low 19 shots on Friday
may have been the biggest feat of the weekend. |
| 16-6-4
(11-5-2 WCHA). LAST WEEK: W vs. Colorado College, 4-2;
W vs. Colorado College, 3-2. THIS WEEK: at Wisconsin,
at Wisconsin. |
| 5. |
 Cornell |
3 |
Sasha Pokulok is back with two goals and two assists
in big wins over the North Country. |
| 13-4-2
(8-3-1 ECACHL). LAST WEEK: W vs. St. Lawrence, 5-2; W
vs. Clarkson, 4-2. THIS WEEK: vs. Brown, vs. Yale. |
| 6. |
 Vermont |
1 |
Despite being shut out Friday and not scoring more than
three goals in a game since Dec. 3, the Catamounts scratched
leading goal scorer Brady Leisenring Saturday night in
search of a spark. The result: another shutout loss. |
| 15-7-2
(7-6-2 Hockey East). LAST WEEK: L at Boston College, 2-0;
L at Boston College, 3-0. THIS WEEK: vs. Merrimack, vs.
Merrimack. |
| 7. |
 North
Dakota |
3 |
Sioux cast aside formerly-hot Mavs as Parise returns
from injury (winning on Saturday) and Stafford snaps out
of his mini-slump, scoring three times in the sweep. |
| 17-10-1
(10-8-0 WCHA). LAST WEEK: W vs. Minnesota State Mankato,
6-3; W vs. Minnesota State Mankato, 4-2. THIS WEEK: vs.
St. Cloud State, vs. St. Cloud State. |
| 8. |
 Colorado
College |
2 |
It's officially a slump. Tigers are in their worst losing
streak in two years, and Brett Sterling has been stuck
on 99 career goals for 11 periods. |
| 17-10-1
(9-8-1 WCHA). LAST WEEK: L at Minnesota, 4-2; L at Minnesota,
3-2. THIS WEEK: Off. |
| 9. |
 Maine |
– |
Black Bears are 2-7 against the four teams ahead of
them in the Hockey East standings. Good time for a trip
to Northeastern. |
| 15-9-0
(8-7-0 Hockey East). LAST WEEK: L vs. Providence, 4-0;
W vs. Providence, 5-2. THIS WEEK: at Northeastern, at
Northeastern. |
| 10. |
 Michigan |
3 |
The Wolverines, 9-1-1 on Thanksgiving Day, have gone
5-8-0 in the eight weeks since. |
| 14-9-1
(9-6-1 CCHA). LAST WEEK: L at Michigan State, 2-0; W vs.
Bowling Green, 6-1; L at Bowling Green, 5-2. THIS WEEK:
at Michigan State, vs. Michigan State. |
| 11. |
 Michigan
State |
6 |
After giving up three goals over his previous five
starts, freshman goaltender Jeff Lerg allowed three
goals both nights as the Spartans split at Nebraska-Omaha. |
| 14-9-5
(8-6-4 CCHA). LAST WEEK: W vs. Michigan, 2-0; W at Nebraska-Omaha,
4-3 ot; L at Nebraska-Omaha, 3-2. THIS WEEK: vs. Michigan,
vs. Michigan. |
| 12. |
 Denver |
6 |
Pioneers petition NCAA to move regional from Green Bay
to Madison after sweep includes Geoff Paukovich's first
two goals of the season. |
| 14-10-2
(11-5-2 WCHA). LAST WEEK: W at Wisconsin, 1-0; W at Wisconsin,
4-2. THIS WEEK: at Alaska Anchorage, at Alaska Anchorage.
|
| 13. |
 New
Hampshire |
1 |
UMass' Matt Anderson, who a year ago left the Whittemore
Center with a broken ankle, produced 2-1—3 including
the OT winner this time. |
| 13-8-4
(9-4-3 Hockey East). LAST WEEK: W at at Massachusetts,
3-1; L vs. Massachusetts, 4-3 ot. THIS WEEK: at Providence. |
| 14. |
 Providence |
– |
The Friars weren't about to settle for a split in Orono.
They played 6:09 of Saturday's third period with an extra
attacker, even scoring twice in the process. |
| 13-9-1
(10-5-1 Hockey East). LAST WEEK: W at Maine, 4-0; L at
Maine, 5-2. THIS WEEK: vs. New Hampshire. |
| 15. |
 Lake
Superior State |
5 |
Lakers' tie and loss at Ferris State ended a stretch
of seven straight conference games in which they'd scored
three or more goals. |
| 12-7-5
(8-7-3 CCHA). LAST WEEK: T at Ferris State, 2-2 ot; L
at Ferris State, 3-1. THIS WEEK: vs. Bowling Green, vs.
Bowling Green. |
| 16. |
 Harvard |
– |
The Crimson return to the ice after three weeks off
and they'll see some familiar faces. Union and RPI were
the last two teams Harvard played. |
| 10-7-2
(6-5-1 ECACHL). LAST WEEK: Off. THIS WEEK: vs. Rensselaer,
vs. Union. |
| 17. |
 St.
Lawrence |
4 |
The Saints have slowed down since a great start. They
have just three wins in their last nine games. |
| 14-9-1
(8-5-0 ECACHL). LAST WEEK: L at Cornell, 5-2; L at Colgate,
4-3 ot. THIS WEEK: at Clarkson, vs. Clarkson. |
| 18. |
 Boston
University |
1 |
John Curry's been a mainstay, but lately the rest of
the Terriers have been producing consistently. |
| 12-8-2
(10-6-1 Hockey East). LAST WEEK: W at Merrimack, 5-2;
W vs. Merrimack, 5-0. THIS WEEK: at Boston College, vs.
Massachusetts. |
| 19. |
 St.
Cloud State |
NR |
UMD transfer Dan Kronick smokes his former team for
three goals and an assist Saturday as the Huskies bluntly
sweep the dazed and confused Bulldogs. |
| 12-9-3
(7-8-1 WCHA). LAST WEEK: W vs. Minnesota Duluth, 4-2;
W vs. Minnesota Duluth, 6-3. THIS WEEK: at North Dakota,
at North Dakota. |
| 20. |
 Colgate
|
NR |
The line of Marc Fulton, Kyle Wilson, and Ryan Smyth
carried the offense for the Raiders, combining for 11
points in two victories. |
| 13-6-5
(9-2-1 ECACHL). LAST WEEK: W vs. Clarkson, 4-2; W vs.
St. Lawrence, 4-3 ot. THIS WEEK: vs. Yale, vs. Brown. |