College Hockey Rankings: Falling Teams Give Way For Newcomers

After a long period of time in our power rankings, the Michigan Wolverines have officially fallen out after the Wisconsin Badgers took care of business and swept the the Wolverines, finding a place within our top ten.

Minnesota took all 50 votes once again and will play the second game of their series at Penn State, a first series matchup between the two teams.

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Ranking	Chris Dilks	Jeff Cox	Nate Wells	Matt Christians	Evan Sporer	SBN FINAL RANK
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1. Minnesota  14-2-3 (50)

Despite 42 saves by Eamon McAdam* and the energy coming from Penn State's first-ever Big Ten home game, the Golden Gophers came back to defeat PSU 3-2 Sunday. Minnesota got three goals from three different defensemen. The two teams will play again tomorrow night before the Gophers host Ohio State Friday outdoors at TCF Bank Stadium (as part of the Hockey City Classic) and indoors at Mariucci Arena (as part of Hockey Day Minnesota) Saturday.

- Nate Wells

2. Ferris State  17-3-3 (44)

One week after their 16-game unbeaten streak was snapped by Colgate, the Bulldogs started a new win streak with a pair of one-goal victories in a home sweep of Michigan Tech. The Bulldogs are still unbeaten in WCHA league play with a 14-0-2 record and are really starting to pull away from the rest of the league with the blistering pace they've set. Second place Bowling Green trails them by five points, but the Bulldogs have four games in hand on Bowling Green. Next weekend, the Bulldogs travel to Minnesota State, who is second in the league in win percentage. At least one win over the Mavericks likely sews up the league for the Bulldogs by mid-January.

- Chris Dilks

3. Quinnipiac 17-3-5 (37)

The Bobcats took out Union to avenge an earlier loss in Schenectady and then easily defeated RPI a night later to take control of first place in the ECAC. Rand Pecknold's team is deep and talented, but has as impressive of a first line as any in the nation with maybe the exception of BC's. Freshman Sam Anas' 30 points is tops among NCAA rookies.

- Jeff Cox

4. Boston College  14-4-3 (32)

Since being put together the top line of Johnny Gaudreau, Kevin Hayes and Bill Arnold have absolutely been unstoppable. The Eagles played a full 60 minutes to defeat Providence, 5-2, in a battle for first place at Conte Forum on Friday night. BC hit a little bit of a roadblock with a tie at Brown Saturday. The Eagles take on archrival Boston University Friday night before looking to avenge an earlier loss at Maine when the Black Bears come to town Saturday.

- Jeff Cox

t5. St. Cloud State  12-3-3  (31)

The Huskies split a series in Denver last weekend, winning 6-3 on Friday night, and falling 5-2 on Saturday. The Saturday loss was St. Cloud's first loss on the road this year, after winning their first nine games away from home. The Huskies still maintained their lead atop the NCHC standings. Next weekend, they'll host a surging Western Michigan team in St. Cloud.

- Chris Dilks

t5. Union  13-4-3 (31)

Quinnipiac handed Union their first loss since November 8th on Friday, avenging a win by the Dutchmen a month earlier. Union bounced back on Saturdaywith a shutout win over Princeton, but standout defenseman Shayne Gostisbehere left the leg in the first period with a lower body injury, and did not return.

- Chris Dilks

7. Northeastern  13-6-3 (14)

The Huskies picked up two wins over top ten teams this week. Braden Pimm scored with under a minute to go and then 12 seconds into overtime to rally for the upset at Providence. Clay Witt continues to sparkle in net for the Huskies. Jim Madigan's team still has some deficiencies on the blue line, but a solid group of young forwards and a hot goaltender is what the doctor ordered.

- Jeff Cox

8. Wisconsin  13-6-1 (13)

The Badgers swept Michigan in the first two game series the teams played in 33 years. Michael Mersch had a hat trick at the Kohl Center Friday in a 5-2 win while Saturday's game ended 3-1 Wisconsin. The team, currently in second in the Big Ten, is idle next week before hosting Ohio State January 24th and 25th.

- Nate Wells

9. Yale 8-3-4 (10)

The Bulldogs triumphed over ECAC rival, Harvard, in a 5-1 battle at Madison Square Garden this past Saturday, where Alex Lyon made 23 saves while letting just one lonely goal by.  Announced attendance at the game was 15,524, making for one heck of an atmosphere.  Yale will venture to Clarkson on Friday before heading to St. Lawrence a day later.

- Matt Christians

10. UMass-Lowell  14-6-1 (6)

Despite the loss at Fenway Park the River Hawks are still right where they need to be heading into the stretch run of league play. Winnipeg Jets prospect Connor Hellebuyck has missed the last four games due to injury,but Doug Carr has filled in well between the pipes. UML has two home games against conference foes Maine and BU this weekend.

- Jeff Cox

Friendship Awards

Western Michigan (2 points), North Dakota (1 point)

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