April 11, 2007
INCH Power Rankings

Related Links
Last week's rankings
USA Today/American Hockey Magazine Poll
USCHO.com/CSTV Poll

Our final rankings of 2006-07 get shuffled based on the outcome of the Frozen Four, but when you take the entire season into account – as we do – the teams that made the trip to St. Louis aren't automatically guaranteed a spot in the top four of our poll.

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 State
4
The Spartans lose five seniors, four of them defensemen. But the top eight forwards are back, as is goalie Jeff Lerg.
26-13-3 (15-10-3 CCHA) LAST WEEK: W vs. Maine, 4-2; W vs. Boston College, 3-1.
2. Boston College
Provided everyone sticks around, the Eagles could be the top-ranked team in the preseason. Brian Boyle and Joe Rooney are the lone key losses.
29-12-1 (18-8-1 Hockey East) LAST WEEK: W vs. North Dakota, 6-4; L vs. Michigan State, 3-1.
3. North Dakota
2
As of right now, the Sioux will bid adieu to forwards Chris Porter and Erik Fabian. As NoDak fans know, however, that can change (see Stafford, Drew and Parise, Zach)
24-14-5 (13-10-5 WCHA) LAST WEEK: L vs. Boston College, 6-4.
4. Notre Dame
1
The Irish return their top five scorers (including the potent Condra-Deeth-Thang line), but lose three defensemen and All-American goalie David Brown.
32-7-3 (21-4-3 CCHA)
5. Minnesota
1
If the Gophers lose just Mike Vannelli and Kellen Briggs from this year's team, they'll be a preseason favorite. With the likes of Erik Johnson and Kyle Okposo on the roster, that's a pretty big if.
31-10-3 (18-7-3 WCHA)
6. Maine
1
The bad news: Maine loses six of its top 10 scorers to graduation. The good news: Teddy Purcell could be an early Hobey favorite, and goalie Ben Bishop will be healthy.
23-15-2 (14-12-1 Hockey East) LAST WEEK: L vs. Michigan State, 4-2.
7. Clarkson
1
Leading point-getter Shawn Weller signed with Ottawa, but the next seven on the team's score sheet are set to return, as is starting goalie Dave Leggio.
25-9-5 (13-5-4 ECACHL)
8. Michigan
Two senior blueliners and sophomore defenseman Jack Johnson won't return. The Wolverines' most pressing need is a goalie to challenge the inconsistent Billy Sauer for the starting job.
26-14-1 (18-9-1 CCHA)
9. New Hampshire
Forward Trevor Smith took his team-high 43 points to the pros and five seniors are gone. But Mike Radja, Jerry Pollastrone, and Matt Fornataro should form a potent top line, and Kevin Regan quietly had a superb year in goal.
26-11-2 (18-7-2 Hockey East)
10. St. Cloud State
Seven seniors, led by goalie Bobby Goepfert, and junior Andrew Gordon are done. Filling the gaps will be easier if forwards Andreas Nodl, Ryan Lasch, and Nate Dey return.
22-11-7 (14-7-7 WCHA)
11. Boston University
Among the Terriers' half dozen losses, senior goalie John Curry will be missed the most. The offense will be better if forward Brandon Yip can steer clear of injuries — he was limited to just 18 games this season.
20-10-9 (13-6-8 Hockey East)
12. Massachusetts
With just four seniors on this year's team, the Minutemen appeared to be a good bet to return to the NCAAs for a second straight year. Without goalie Jon Quick, however, the forecast changes dramatically.
21-13-5 (15-9-3 Hockey East)
13. Miami
Marty Guerin and Matt Christie were among the four senior forwards on this year's RedHawk squad. Of greater concern is whether Nathan Davis and Ryan Jones return for their fourth seasons in Oxford.
24-14-4 (16-8-4 CCHA)
14. St. Lawrence
The suprising Saints will have to replace two of its top three scorers in forwards Kyle Rank and Max Taylor. No one, however, will be able to do the things All-American defenseman Drew Bagnall did for this team.
23-14-2 (16-5-1 ECACHL)
15. Denver
Forward Ryan Dingle signed with Anaheim, and the Pioneers lose eight seniors. Still, a core group of talented scorers — led by Brock Trotter, Tyler Ruegsegger, and Rhett Rahnkshani — are back.
21-15-4 (13-11-4 WCHA)
16. Quinnipiac
With just two seniors — one of them being high-scoring defenseman Reid Cashman — saying goodbye, the Bobcats will be one of the favorites in the ECAC Hockey League next season.
21-14-5 (10-8-4 ECACHL)
17. Dartmouth
Tanner Glass picked up his first pro point with an assist for the Rochester Americans on Sunday. Dartmouth fans would've prefered that he played in Rochester for Dartmouth last weekend.
18-12-3 (12-7-3 ECACHL)
18. Wisconsin
Four of the Badgers' top five scorers are gone, as is goalie Brian Elliott. But Bucky may have the nation's top recruit in British Columbia forward Kyle Turris , a likely top-10 pick in June's NHL Draft.
19-18-4 (12-13-3 WCHA)
19. RIT
Leading scorer Steve Pinizzotto left school with two years of eligibility remaining, but just about everyone else is back, including forwards Matt Smith and Simon Lambert, and goalies Louis Menard and Jocelyn Guimond.
21-11-2 (20-7-1 Atlantic Hockey)
20. Michigan Tech
"Wait 'til next year" is the cry in Houghton. The Huskies lose just three players from this year's team that finished the season above .500 for the first time since 1992-93.
18-17-5 (11-12-5 WCHA)

Dropped out: None

Bubble-licious: Air Force, Alabama-Huntsville