First off, let me just say this; I apologize for misleading some of you. I said there would be five more poll breakdowns, when actually; there will be one or two more, both on the National Level.

Anyway let’s get to the USA Today/USA Hockey Magazine Men’s top 15 college poll.

As expected, the Boston College Eagles are the number one team in the land. In fact, the defending national champions dominated the first place votes with 27. Michigan, number two in the nation, only had four first place votes.

Some teams that are surprisingly on the list are North Dakota at No. 4 and Colorado College at No. 5. CC should be at four, and North Dakota, with all that talent leaving, should be a little lower, but still a top 10 team.

Miami is another shock. If North Dakota lost a lot, then Miami, who lost Ryan Jones and Nathan Davis, a dynamic one-two punch (to graduation), as well as their top defenseman, Alec Martinez, and their standout goaltender, Jeff Zatkoff, who both signed a pro contract, is another one. They are ranked eighth and should be out of the top 15.

Minnesota should be ranked higher; Clarkson isn’t even the favorite in the ECAC (picked fourth) and their ranked higher than Princeton, who’s not even in the top 15. Other than that, there are no problems.

Two teams to keep an eye out for in the top 15 are No. 12 Michigan State and No. 13 Wisconsin.

Even though Michigan State does not have the goal scoring power (yet), they still have a great goaltender in Jeff Lerg. Expect Lerg to steal a couple of victories this year for the Spartans.

Another team to watch out for is Wisconsin. If the slogan “defense wins championships” is true, then the Badgers have the defensive experience back. Goaltender Shane Connelly should have a better year in his final season in Madison with the defense in front of him, and this defense can create scoring opportunities for the offense, even without leading goal scorer Kyle Turris.

Within next week in the NCAA Preview, expect the Inside Hockey top 10, but before that, here is the USA Today/USA Hockey top 15:

1. Boston College
2. Michigan
3. Notre Dame
4. North Dakota
5. Colorado College
6. Denver
7. New Hampshire
8. Miami (Ohio)
9. Minnesota
10. Boston University
11. Clarkson
12. Michigan State
13. Wisconsin
14. Northern Michigan
15. St. Cloud State

On Saturday, Oct. 4, the Quinnipiac University men’s hockey team will lose…their hair. Following the Bobcats’ annual Blue & Gold intrasquad scrimmage, coach Rand Pecknold and most of the team will shave their heads in front of the TD Banknorth Sports Center in Hamden, Conn. All proceeds from the event go to support medical research in the fight against children’s cancer.

Pecknold, who is a proponent of giving back to the community, said that “well over $21,000” has been raised and he anticipates raising close to $30,000.

“I’m thrilled to have already met an initial fundraising goal for Blades & Shaves,” Pecknold said. “I look forward to seeing how high we can reach with a few days left.”

Although it is not mandatory for players to shave their heads, Pecknold said that almost every player is on board.

“I’m also very proud of my student-athletes for their support and participation in battling this disease,” he said.

Furthermore, the whole coaching staff as well as sports information director Ken Sweeten will be shaving their heads.

The concept came about after a six year old boy on Pecknold's street was diagnosed with cancer. After being approached by the father to see if Pecknold could do something to raise awareness, the Blades & Shaves event was sparked.

“I thought it was great,” senior captain Dan Henningson said. “It’s just hair and it’s the least we can do.”

Henningson will kick off the event by shaving Pecknold’s head then local barbers and hairdressers who have volunteered their time will step in to do the rest.

Blades & Shaves is officially sanctioned by St. Baldrick’s Foundation, the world’s largest volunteer-driven fundraising event for childhood cancer research. The event, slated to start at 2:30 p.m., will be emceed by Deb Kaufman, a television sports reporter who covers the New York Islanders and New York Rangers for Fox Sports Net.

Welcome to another first at Inside Hockey. The first ever installment of the top 10 Games of the Week blog entry.

Each week, I will pick 10 games from the weekend schedule and predict a winner from those games. This week the games include: The four Icebreaker games, Wisconsin's trip to Boston College and New Hampshire, the battle of Ohio (Friday game) between Ohio State and Miami, St. Lawrence and Michigan (Friday), A game in the province of Quebec between Rensselaer and Vermont, and the game of the week, the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame game between Notre Dame and Denver.

Let's start off with the Friday games and begin with the Icebreaker games:

Michigan State 4 - Massachusetts 2

The Spartans open the 2008-09 college hockey season with a win in the Icebreaker.

North Dakota 5 - Boston University 3

North Dakota closes night one of the icebreaker in a back and fourth game.

Boston College 4 - Wisconsin 2

It will be a "Banner Night" at The Heights, when the Eagles close out the 2007-08 season, and open the 2008-09 season, in style.

Michigan 6 - St. Lawrence 2

Eager to avenge the Frozen Four loss, the Wolverines will take out their frustration on St. Lawrence opening game.

Miami 3 - Ohio State 1

Miami opens up in a tough game in The Battle of Ohio, but they'll take this one.

Saturday games

Wisconsin 3 - New Hampshire 2

Wisconsin salvages a split on their road trip.

Vermont 3 - Rensselaer 2

UVM Opens up their season with a win, before Miami comes to town.

North Dakota 5 - Massachusetts 2

The Fighting Sioux close out the Icebreaker at 2-0

Boston University 4 - Michigan State 3

Spartan goaltender Jeff Lerg will be tested against this potent offensive attack of BU. Terriers come out on top.

Game of the Week

Denver 3 - Notre Dame 2 (OT)

The Pioneers knock off the defending National runner-up in overtime.

Great games this weekend, should account to an exciting weekend in NCAA Hockey.

On Saturday, October 4, the Quinnipiac University Bobcats were able to give back to the community in a unique way: by shaving their heads. Following the annual intra-squad scrimmage, coach Rand Pecknold, the entire coaching staff and most of the team were among 47 participants to have their heads shaved at the Blades & Shaves event. To date, $27,218 has been raised in donations to benefit the St. Baldrick’s Foundation, the world’s largest volunteer-driven fundraising event for children’s cancer research.

“Blades & Shaves exceeded our wildest expectations,” Pecknold said. ““We far eclipsed our fundraising goal in support of medical research for children’s cancer and also helped spread awareness about the disease and the damaging effect it has on kids. I want to personally thank everyone – including my student-athletes and staff – who so generously donated their money, time or hair to help make this event so successful.”

After Blue defeated Gold 4-2, with a winning goal by junior forward Brandon Wong, participants and spectators watched as Pecknold and players had their heads shaved. The event, emceed by Deb Placey, a television sports reporter who has covered the New York Islanders and New York Rangers, was inspired by Pecknold’s six-year-old neighbor Brent McCreesh. McCreesh was diagnosed with neuroblastoma at age two. His parents Michael and Dana co-founded Team Brent in association with St. Baldrick’s. Team Brent has raised more than $1 million and shaved more than 1,000 heads over the past three years.

Furthermore, St. Baldrick’s Foundation Manager of Special Events Corrine Jones was there to present a grant check for $110,000 to Dr. Nina Kadan-Lottick of Yale New Haven Hospital for cooperative research. Also following the event was a Bobcat autograph session with team photos given away to youth players and fans.

Donations are still being accepted online at www.stbaldricks.org or at the Blades & Shaves event page, http://www.stbaldricks.org/events/event_info.html?EventKey=2008-1496.

In another new installment, I will be providing a weekly top five of any aspect of college hockey. This week, let's take a look at the teams with the best home ice advantage in college hockey.

#5 Lynah Rink-Home of the Cornell Big Red

One of two legendary on-campus arenas in the top five, Lynah Rink in Ithaca, New York, is home of some of the most clever fans in college hockey. With newspaper reading, fish throwing, c-ya chants, and of course the ever so popular, sieve chant. It is a tough environment to play in with a great student section, and a loyal alumni base. It's tough to get a ticket in this joint, with seating capacity at 4,267.

Rival: Harvard

#4 Agganis Arena-Home of the Boston University Terriers

Built just in time for the new year in 2005, Agganis Arena is a state of the art rink, with a lot of amenities. A Wall-of-Fame featuring the tradition at BU, and some other nice features help make this one special.

Let's not forget the student sections. The two student sections are right on top of the goaltender, for the purpose of getting under the goaltenders skin. With the sieve sign at one end in red and white and the goalie sign in white and red, even the casual hockey fan would think that is clever.

This is truly the best home ice in Hockey East

Rival: Boston College

#3 Mariucci Arena-Home of the University of Minnesota

Voted one of the top 10 venues in college sports by Sports Illustrated this venue is a great game to watch a hockey game.

In "The State of Hockey" the Gophers are one of the biggest draws in the state. The arena, built in 1993, seats exactly 10,000 people, and the atmosphere is great. The fans are into the game, the band is always there. A little downside here, is that there is no sieve chant at all, but nevertheless it is number three on the countdown.

Rival(s): Wisconsin, Minnesota-Duluth, North Dakota

#2 Yost Ice Arena-Home of the Michigan Wolverines

This almost made the top spot, but missed by a whisker. With the c-ya chant for a visiting team penalty (also done by Cornell), as well as one of the greatest bands and fight songs, Hail to the Victors, makes this a great place to watch a game.

The fans fill the arena, and the crowd is energetic. The only thing that is missing is the size, at only 6,637.

Rival: Michigan State

#1 Kohl Center-Home of the Wisconsin Badgers

This arena has everything you would want. Capacity (15,237), great, loyal fan base, and the most enthusiastic student section in all of college hockey.

The Wisconsin sieve chant might be a little too much, but it's still is the best by far. Even when a goalie makes a great save, the whole arena chants sieve.

Now let's get to the students. Do they ever leave their seats during a game? I don't think that they do with the band playing Tequila and other great party songs during the intermissions, the student section seems to enjoy every minute of it, dancing the night away. Well at least at the Kohl Center they do so.

Anyway, loyalty is the name of the game, and if the Badgers I think rank number one in this category. Season Tickets are a must if you are to go to a game. Otherwise, it will be a tough ticket.

Rivals: Minnesota, North Dakota

Youtube these fans, and you'll see why they are ranked. Until next week, let's keep the puck rolling!