Faceoff Factor

NCAA Power Rankings - Week of 1/22

Andrew Chiappazzi | College/NCAA

Jan 22, 08:05 PM | Hype this story!

I know that as soon as I suggest that some stability is entering into the college hockey world, we’ll have a weekend or two of upsets.

But I’ll suggest it anyways. And what better example than the Power Rankings? It’s a bit quiet in terms of movement amongst the elite teams. It’s like a horse race on the back-stretch; lots of jockeying for position, teams bumping up one week and then dropping back the next, but ultimately, the top teams stay in roughly the same spots.

So, the Secretariat version of the power rankings, and the top 20:

1. (1) Michigan (22-2-0) – CCHA
The unquestioned number one anymore. The only question is quickly becoming: What’s worse, being 18-0 and losing the Super Bowl like the Patriots could, or being this good and not winning the NCAA Championship? Wolverines quickly becoming the Pats of college hockey…
2. (2) Miami of Ohio (23-3-0) – CCHA
...But an argument could be made that the Redhawks are right up there with them. So are they the Colts…or is this like Kansas/North Carolina/Memphis and college hoops? So many questions, and just a month and a half left.
3. (3) Colorado College (18-6-0) – WCHA
Easy stretch for CC right now. Michigan Tech is up next. A sweep is almost expected, although 3 points would still be a success.
4. (5) Michigan State (16-5-4) – CCHA
Defending champs acting like it, taking care of business with Ohio State. If they keep getting goaltending like they have been, a repeat could be in the cards.
5. (4) Denver (18-6-0) – WCHA
What’s going on in the Mile High city? Losses to Wisconsin and Air Force are not what this team needs right now.
6. (5) Notre Dame (18-9-1) – CCHA
They put up a fight with the Wolverines, so they’ll avoid being punished. Also…
7. (8) North Dakota (12-8-1) – WCHA
...The Sioux won – twice over Minnesota State – but those wins aren’t exactly ones to hang your hat on. And…
8. (7) New Hampshire (13-7-1) – Hockey East
...The Wildcats didn’t exactly make a move, losing to Dartmouth. Meh.
9. (14) Boston College (11-5-6) – Hockey East
Eagles are finally starting to look like a team that can play well in the tournament. Now, have they found the consistency that they’ve been lacking as well?
10. (10) St. Cloud State (11-10-3) – WCHA
No games this past weekend for the Huskies, but they need to knock off Minnesota State this weekend.
11. (11) Clarkson (13-7-2) – ECAC
Story of a small school’s life – interesting enough to merit mention, but can’t crack the top ten.
12. (12) Air Force (12-7-4) – Atlantic Hockey
How ‘bout dem Falcons! Walloped Denver and put a scare into Colorado College. Yes, if they had won both, they’d be #10. But they didn’t.
13. (9) Massachusetts (9-7-5) – Hockey East
Minutemen very similar to the team that’s neck and neck with them in the standings…
14. (13) Northeastern (11-6-3) – Hockey East
...And I don’t the Huskies will be the ones to win that battle. Minutemen have shown a bit more than Northeastern has.
15. (15) Niagara (13-8-1) – CHA
Wayne State should not have hung as close as they did to the Eagles. Other CHA teams should take notice…wins over WSU and Alabama-Huntsville should be gimmes right now for RMU, NU, and Bemidji.
16. (17) Quinnipiac (14-5-3) – ECAC
Just two points out of first in the conference and a solid non-conference matchup with the team right above them in these here rankings.
17. (18) RIT (12-8-3) – Atlantic Hockey
With Air Force, the Tigers are making a strong argument for multiple AH teams in the tournament. Considering the parity in the NCAA this year, that’s not as much of a stretch as it once was.
18. (16) Massachusetts-Lowell (11-6-4) – Hockey East
Two bad conference losses to teams that they have the ability to beat. BC and UMass are good, but if Lowell wants to surprise people, they’ve gotta win those. *19. (20) Minnesota (12-10-4) – WCHA *
And just like that, the Gophers are slowly chipping away in the WCHA. Three points versus Duluth made up for the last weekend against St. Cloud State.
20. (NR) Princeton (10-8-0) – ECAC
Welcome to the Tigers. They shouldn’t expect to stay long, as there are plenty of strong teams that either didn’t win this weekend to warrant a bump or just didn’t play. Princeton will have to earn this spot again next week.

DROPPED OUT #19 Minnesota State

ON THE OUTSIDE, LOOKING IN:
Bemidji State, Bowling Green, Minnesota-Duluth, Robert Morris