If teams find themselves in the Dec. 16 edition
of the INCH Power Rankings, things have generally gone their
way over the first few months of the hockey season, meaning
they've been more nice than naughty so far. For that, we grant
them all a Christmas wish.
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. |
 Michigan |
— |
Breaking an 11-year GLI title drought would be nice,
but in the big picture, it's more that the freshmen don't
hit the wall during the second half of the season and
the maturation of goaltender Billy Sauer (2.06 GAA, .915
save pct.) isn't a mirage. |
| 16-2-0 (11-1-0
CCHA) LAST WEEK: Off. NEXT: vs. Providence, vs. Michigan
Tech/Michigan State (Great Lakes Invitational). |
| 2. |
 Denver |
— |
The Pioneers asked Santa for a giant Lucite case in
order to keep senior goalie Peter Mannino (14-4-0, 1.80
GAA, .932 save pct.) in mint condition between starts. |
| 12-4-0 (9-3-0
WCHA) LAST WEEK: W at Alaska Anchorage, 4-3; W at Alaska
Anchorage, 6-2. NEXT: vs. Sacred Heart, vs. Dartmouth/Northern
Michigan (Denver Cup). |
| 3. |
 Miami |
— |
What do you get for the team that has everything? How
about a little more from senior forward Nathan Davis,
who has just three goals and an assist in eight games
so far this season? |
| 16-2-0 (10-2-0
CCHA) LAST WEEK: W at Rensselaer, 7-3; W at Rensselaer,
5-1. NEXT: vs. St. Cloud State, vs. Harvard/Ohio State
(Ohio Hockey Classic). |
| 4. |
 Michigan
State |
— |
The Spartans have an impressive record. They'd probably
be happier with an impressive win or two, however. MSU's
mark against teams above .500 is a discouraging 0-3-1. |
| 12-3-2 (8-2-0
CCHA) LAST WEEK: Off. NEXT: vs. Michigan Tech, vs. Michigan/Providence
(Great Lakes Invitational). |
| 5. |
 Notre
Dame |
— |
The Fighting Irish might be hoping for a collection
of DVDs -- all the better to entertain them during the
frequent trips they'll be taking between now and the end
of January. The Irish play eight of their next 10 away
from home. Notable are dates at Michigan State (Jan. 11)
and against Michigan at the Palace of Auburn Hills (Jan.
19). |
| 16-4-0 (10-2-0
CCHA) LAST WEEK: Off. NEXT: vs. Massachusetts, vs. Rensselaer/Colorado
College (Lightning Classic). |
| 6. |
 Colorado
College |
— |
Judging from the Tigers' second-half schedule, their
wish came true. With no trip to Minnesota and no visit
from North Dakota, CC's prime concerns are a series at
Wisconsin (Jan. 4-5), a pair against St. Cloud State (Feb.
8-9), and a home-and-home with Denver (March 7-8). |
| 11-5-0 (11-3-0
WCHA) LAST WEEK: W at St. Cloud State, 3-1; L at St. Cloud
State, 4-2. NEXT: vs. Rensselaer, vs. Notre Dame/Massachusetts
(Lightning Classic). |
| 7. |
 New
Hampshire |
 1 |
A safe and healthy return from the World Junior Championship
for freshman forward James van Riemsdyk, who ranks second
on the Wildcats in scoring. |
| 9-4-1 (6-4-1 Hockey
East) LAST WEEK: W vs. Maine, 2-0. NEXT: at North Dakota,
at North Dakota (Dec. 28-29). |
| 8. |
 North
Dakota |
 1 |
A repeat of last season's second half would be a dream
come true for the Sioux and their fans. After hitting
the '06-'07 holiday break with a 7-10-1 mark, NoDak steamrolled
its foes, recording a post-Christmas record of 17-4-4
and making a third straight trip to the Frozen Four. |
| 8-6-1 (6-6-0 WCHA)
LAST WEEK: Off. NEXT: vs. New Hampshire, vs. New Hampshire
(Dec. 28-29). |
| 9. |
 Clarkson |
— |
Santa could bring the Golden Knights some steel-toed
work boots, hard hats, and gloves as a daily reminder
that work ethic is just as important as talent. |
| 10-5-0 (6-2-0
ECAC Hockey) LAST WEEK: Off. NEXT: vs. Maine, vs. UMass-Lowell/Cornell
(Florida College Classic). |
| 10. |
 Massachusetts |
— |
UMass wishes for an early goal, as they
are 4-1-1 on the season when scoring first. |
| 7-3-5 (4-2-4 Hockey
East) LAST WEEK: Off. NEXT: vs. Notre Dame, vs. Rensselaer/Colorado
College (Lightning Classic). |
| 11. |
 Northeastern |
— |
The Huskies hope for a little margin of error, and continued
success in the close games. Northeastern is 5-2 in games
decided by one goal (with another win with an empty-net
goal) including two overtime victories. |
| 7-4-2 (6-3-1 Hockey
East) LAST WEEK: Off. NEXT: vs. Bowling Green, vs. Wisconsin/Colgate
(Badger Showdown). |
| 12. |
 Boston
College |
2 |
Some peace and quiet after the start of the New Year
would suit the Eagles just fine, after a first half that
included several stories not related to hockey. |
| 6-4-5 (4-3-4 Hockey
East) LAST WEEK: W at Harvard, 7-2. NEXT: vs. Air Force,
vs. RIT/Minnesota (Dodge Holiday Classic). |
| 13. |
 Minnesota |
— |
That somebody, anybody, develops a scoring touch ...
and soon. With 46 goals in 18 games, the Gophers are the
not-so-proud possessors of the nation's 35th-ranked scoring
offense. Last year, the Pride on Icers had 46 goals by
Nov. 10. |
| 9-8-1 (5-7-0 WCHA)
LAST WEEK: Off. NEXT: vs. RIT, vs. Boston College/Air
Force (Dodge Holiday Classic). |
| 14. |
 Harvard |
2 |
The Crimson wish for a boost in performance and confidence
in the games against ranked opponents, as Harvard is 1-3-0
on the year against teams currently in the top-20. |
| 6-4-2 (5-3-1 ECAC
Hockey) LAST WEEK: L vs. Boston College, 7-2. NEXT: vs.
Ohio State, vs. St. Cloud State/Miami (Ohio Hockey Classic). |
| 15. |
 Wisconsin |
— |
The Badgers are likely wishing that all their remaining
games will be moved to the Kohl Center. Bucky is 6-2-0
at home and 1-5-2 away from Madison. |
| 7-7-2 (4-5-1 WCHA)
LAST WEEK: Off. NEXT: vs. Colgate, vs. Bowling Green/Northeastern
(Badger Showdown). |
| 16. |
 Quinnipiac |
1 |
Quinnipiac's Brandon Wong has embraced the giving spirit
of the holidays with a team-high 10 assists so far this
season, but his two goals are a far cry from the 27 he
posted as a freshman. |
| 8-5-2 (3-3-2 ECAC
Hockey) LAST WEEK: Off. NEXT: vs. Western Michigan, vs.
Holy Cross/Vermont (Catamount Cup). |
| 17. |
 Rensselaer |
1 |
Batteries, extension cords, generators ... anything
that can bring the Engineers some power, as RPI ranks
last in the nation with just five goals in 85 power-play
opportunities. |
| 8-7-3 (3-2-2 ECAC
Hockey) LAST WEEK: L vs. Miami, 7-3; L vs. Miami, 5-1.
NEXT: vs. Colorado College, vs. Massachusetts/Notre Dame
(Lightning Classic). |
| 18. |
 Minnesota
Duluth |
— |
The 'Dogs are hoping that goalie Alex Stalock has nerves
of steel, because the sophomore with the 2.42 GAA (and
a .910 save pct.) walks the tightrope every night for
a team that averages just 2.50 goals per game. |
| 6-6-4 (5-6-3 WCHA) LAST WEEK:
Off. NEXT: vs. Bemidji State, at Bemidji State (Jan. 4-5). |
| 19. |
 Bowling
Green |
— |
A continued revitilization of this once proud program
is a wish many in the college hockey community share.
The schedule certainly favors the Falcons, whose toughest
post-holiday tests are a series vs. Miami and home-and-home
sets with Notre Dame and Michigan State. |
| 8-6-0 (5-5-0 CCHA)
LAST WEEK: Off. NEXT: vs. Northeastern, vs. Wisconsin/Colgate
(Badger Showdown). |
| 20. |
 Air
Force |
— |
The Falcons' wish would likely be twofold — that
the holiday break doesn't slow the momentum of their six-game
unbeaten streak, and that said streak doesn't continue
with half the games ending in ties. |
| 9-4-3 (7-4-3 Atlantic Hockey)
LAST WEEK: Off. NEXT: vs. Boston College, vs. Minnesota/RIT
(Dodge Holiday Classic). |