College Hockey Rankings: St. Cloud State Moving Up

The Minnesota Golden Gophers failed to recieve all of the first-place votes this week as they earned a tie against Michigan, while the St. Cloud State Huskies vanquished Minnesota Duluth to remain perfect on the road and moving up in this week's SB Nation College Hockey Power Rankings.

Boston College has found a spot once again, while UMass-Lowell and Lake Superior moved down, if not out. As close in the midseason point, it almost looks as though it'll come down to a toss up for first place.

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Ranking	Chris Dilks	Jeff Cox	Nate Wells	Matt Christians	Evan Sporer	SBN FINAL RANK
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1. Minnesota 12-2-2 (48)

The Golden Gophers took 4 of 6 points against Michigan State in the team's first-ever B1G road trip. Spartans freshman Villiam Haag scored a goal and added an assist in a 2-2 tie Friday. (MSU won the shootout 1-0 to take the extra point.) Saturday was a different story as Minnesota defeated the Spartans 3-2 in a game that was not as close as the score indicated. Although the Gophers are off until January 3 for the Mariucci Classic, the team will be shorthanded defensively after Jake Parenteau broke his leg during Friday's game.

- Nate Wells

2. St. Cloud State 11-1-2 (46)

The Huskies only generated 46 shots on goal over the weekend, but still managed nine goals (including an empty-netter) to earn a pair of wins at intrastate rival Minnesota-Duluth. The two victories moved St. Cloud into sole possession of first place in the NCHC. Next week, they'll play a huge non-conference series when a red-hot Union team that has won 9 of their last 10 travels to St. Cloud.

- Chris Dilks

3. Providence 11-2-3 (40)

The Friars played just one game this weekend, tying Northeastern in a 3-3 skirmish, but peppered Northeastern netminder Clay Witt with 55 total shots on the night. Next, Providence will venture to play Army on the December 20th.

- Matt Christians

4. Ferris State 13-2-2 (34)

The Bulldogs jumped out to a multi-goal lead in the first period on both Friday and Saturday to earn a sweep at Lake Superior and stay unbeaten in WCHA play. The Bulldogs after haven't dropped a game since losing to St. Lawrence on October 18th. They'll face their toughest test of the season this upcoming week, when they play at Michigan on Wednesday, and then at Michigan State on Saturday.

- Chris Dilks

5. Michigan 10-2-1 (32)

Michigan had a last second victory over Ohio State last Monday night, after letting a third period slip away. The Wolverines also lost an exhibition to the NTDP U18 team on Thursday 5-4 in overtime after inserting their fourth-string goalie with just over 2 minutes left in regulation with a 4-2 lead. The Wolverines have a huge game on Wednesday, when they host Ferris State to finish up play before the holiday break.

- Chris Dilks

6. Union 10-3-2 (21)

The Dutchmen continued its hot streak at home with a 3-0 shutout win over Princeton and a 6-4 victory Saturday over Quinnipiac. Saturday's win, Union's seventh in a row, put the Dutchmen and Bobcats into a two-way tie on top of the ECAC standings. (Union has two games in hand, though.) This week will be a major test. After facing Dartmouth on Wednesday, Union travels to St. Cloud State with a battle with #2 St. Cloud State.

- Nate Wells

t7. Clarkson 12-3-1 (17)

Clarkson swept north country rival St. Lawrence this weekend to move into third place in the ECAC. The Golden Knights already have four more wins than they did the entire season a year ago.

- Jeff Cox

t7. Quinnipiac 13-3-3 (17)

After finishing in a 3-3 draw against RPI this past Friday, Quinnipiac went on to fall against Union college in a 6-4 upset. Quinnipiac will take on Massachusetts this Friday, and then either Sacred Heart or Connecticut depending on how those two games fare.

- Matt Christians

9. UMass-Lowell 11-5-0 (9)

The River Hawks had a mixed week. After defeating American International 6-1, UMass-Lowell ended its first half by falling to Maine 4-2 when Blaine Byron scored with 3:33 left. The River Hawks sit in fifth place in Hockey East, five points behind Boston College (the Eagles have two games in hand), but will have two weeks off until facing Canisius in the Catamount Cup December 28th.

- Nate Wells

10. Boston College 10-4-2 (8)

The Eagles got back on track after two disappointing losses against Maine and Holy Cross, as Boston College moved back into first place in Hockey East with a weekend sweep of New Hampshire. Looking to spark his team and change things up, head coach Jerry York decided to go with a new top line of Johhny Gaudreau, Bill Arnold, and Kevin Hayes, and the new unit produced to the tune of four goals and four assists, as the Eagles picked up a big four points in league play.

- Evan Sporer

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