Welcome to the National Collegiate Hockey Conference Power Rankings. Three of us will be doing the weekly NCHC Power Rankings during the 2014-15 season.
This season, Zach Hawkins @Siouxhockey33, Taylor Seibel @taylorseibel and Eric Burton @goon48 will break down the NCHC power rankings. Feel free to send your comments to thegoon48@gra.midco.net.
Editing note: There will not be a lot of movement in this week’s power rankings because there were only four games played last weekend.
Without further adieu, here’s this week’s power rankings.
Eric Burton
1. North Dakota 19-6-2 USCHO 2 pairwise 2
Last weekend, the University of North Dakota was off. Head coach Dave Hakstol told the media last week, that he would rather have played last weekend.
This week, UND plays the Denver Pioneers at the Ralph in pivotal conference series. UND is 7-2-1 in the last 10 games.
Remaining series: Denver, @ Western Michigan, St. Cloud, @ Miami
1. Nebraska-Omaha 16-7-3 USCHO 4 Pairwise 4
Last weekend, the Mavericks were off.
This weekend, the Mavericks entertain the Western Michigan Broncos. Nebraska-Omaha is 6-3-1 in the last 10 games.
Remaining series: Western Michigan, @ St. Cloud State, @ Minnesota-Duluth, Colorado College
3. UMD 17-10-1 USCHO 6 pairwise 5
Last weekend, the Minnesota-Duluth Bulldogs swept (3-1 W, 6-3 W) the Northern Michigan Wildcats. This season, the Bulldogs went 3-1-0 against teams from the Upper Peninsula of Michigan.
This weekend, the Bulldogs entertain the St. Cloud State Huskies.
Remaining series: St. Cloud State, @ Miami, Nebraska-Omaha. @ Western Michigan.
3. Denver 16-9-1 USCHO 9 pairwise 9
This past weekend, the Denver Pioneers shut out (3-0) the Colorado College Tigers. With the win, the Pioneers take a 2-0 lead in the Gold Pan series. Denver is 6-4-0 the last 10 games.
This weekend, the Pioneers travel to Grand Forks, ND, to take on North Dakota.
Remaining series: @ North Dakota, home-and-home Colorado College, Miami, @ St. Cloud State
5. Miami 16-9-1 USCHO 7 Pairwise 7
This past weekend, the Miami RedHawks beat the Western Michigan Broncos (4-3) in a single game at the Hockey City Classic in Chicago, Illinois.
This weekend, the RedHawks travel to Colorado Springs to play the Colorado College Tigers. The RedHawks are 5-4-1 in the last 10 games.
Remaining series: @ Colorado College, Minnesota-Duluth @ Denver, North Dakota
6. Western Michigan 11-11-4 USCHO N/R pairwise T25
This past weekend, the Western Michigan Bronco lost (3-4) to the Miami RedHawks at the Hockey Classic in Chicago, Illinois. The Broncos are 5-3-2 in the last 10 games.
This weekend, the Broncos travel to Omaha to take on the Mavericks.
Remaining series: @ Nebraska-Omaha, North Dakota, @ Colorado College, Minnesota Duluth.
7. St. Cloud 12-13-1 USCHO N/R pairwise T22
Last weekend, the St. Cloud State Huskies were off.
This weekend, the Huskies travel to Duluth to take on the Bulldogs. The Huskies are 6-4-0 in the last 10 games.
Remaining series: @ Minnesota-Duluth, Nebraska-Omaha, North Dakota, Denver
8. Colorado college. USCHO N/R pairwise 48
This past weekend, the Tigers were shutout (0-3) by the Denver Pioneers.
This weekend, the Tigers entertain the Miami RedHawks. The Tigers are 2-8-0 in the last 10 games.
Remaining series: Miami, home-and-home Denver, Western Michigan, @ Nebraska-Omaha.
Taylor Seibel
1. North Dakota 19-6-2 USCHO 2 pairwise 2
North Dakota is arguably the most complete team in the NCHC. The Sioux have a veteran group of forwards, any of whom are capable of lighting the lamp on any night. North Dakota’s defensive corps excels in both shutting down the opposition in addition to getting on the score sheet. UND also has a dependable netminder capable of stealing a game. Add that all together, and North Dakota is the top team in the NCHC at the moment. This weekend, Denver makes the trip up to Grand Forks to take on the Sioux.
2. Nebraska-Omaha 16-7-3 USCHO 4 Pairwise 4
The Mavericks may have been off this past weekend, but they have all the makings of a potential conference champion. UNO has a strong group of underclassmen that have refused to shy away from the moment, as shown two weekends ago when they went toe to toe with North Dakota in a classic series. Throw in Ryan Massa, and Dean Blais has his Omaha squad ready for the final stretch. This weekend, Nebraska Omaha squares off against Western Michigan at home.
3. Miami 16-9-1 USCHO 7 Pairwise 7
The RedHawks barely held off former CCHA rival Western Michigan in an outdoor game at Soldier Field after storming out to a 4-0 lead. The game still resulted in three critical points for Miami as the RedHawks stay in the running for the Penrose Cup. Six more critical points will be on the line this weekend when Miami takes on Colorado College in Colorado Springs.
4. Minnesota-Duluth 17-10-1 USCHO 6 pairwise 5
Duluth had its struggles against Northern Michigan this past weekend, but still managed a sweep of the Wildcats. Minnesota Duluth is on the cusp of being in position for a #1 seed for the NCAA tournament, yet sits only 1 point ahead of Denver for the final home-ice position. The Bulldogs will look to put some separation between themselves and the Pioneers for that final spot this weekend as they host the St. Cloud State Huskies.
5. Denver 16-9-1 USCHO 9 pairwise 9
Denver knocked off rival Colorado College despite a strong effort from the Tigers this past weekend. The win put Denver within a point of home ice position for the first round of the NCHC Tournament. The Pioneers will look to scrap together points this weekend when they take on rival North Dakota in a key series for both teams.
6. Western Michigan 11-11-4 USCHO N/R pairwise T25
Western Michigan looked pathetic early on Saturday against Miami, getting down 4 goals. However, the Broncos surged in the third period, scoring three unanswered and nearly knotting the game to force overtime. Unfortunately for Western, they came up just short. The road won’t get any easier though for the Broncos as they travel to Omaha to take on the team at the top of the standings in the NCHC.
7. St. Cloud 12-13-1 USCHO N/R pairwise T22
The Huskies just might be peaking at the right time. St. Cloud has the talent on its roster to win any game they are in, and I do not believe they would shock anyone who follows this conference if they were to string together 4 victories in March to capture the NCHC Tournament Championship. They will look to get back on the winning track and enact some revenge this weekend against Minnesota Duluth.
8. Colorado College USCHO N/R pairwise 48
The Tigers might be the best 1-conference win team in college hockey in quite some time. Colorado College dropped their only contest this weekend against in-state rival Denver, but the Tigers gave the top-10 Pioneers all they could handle. The road coming in will not be easy for the Tigers, but there should be little doubt that CC will give their opposition fits the rest of the way this season. Moreover, Colorado College will not be a cupcake for whoever takes the Penrose Cup.
Zack Hawkins
1. North Dakota 19-6-2 USCHO 2 pairwise 2
Denver comes to the Ralph in a Valentine’s Day weekend series with no love lost. Coming off the bye, North Dakota looks to keep their winning ways going into the last month of the regular season with no love lost between these opponents.
1. Nebraska-Omaha 16-7-3 USCHO 4 Pairwise 4
Another team off this past weekend, Omaha will have their work cut out for them if they are able to claim the Penrose Cup this season. Only one point up on North Dakota, and just separated by five points back to fifth place Denver, Omaha will need to play every series just like the North Dakota one two weeks ago.
3. Miami 16-9-1 USCHO 7 Pairwise 7
Coming off a one game battle at Soldier Field against Western Michigan, Miami looks to continue to roll right into the NCHC playoffs with their foot to the floorboard. Although Western Michigan put up a tough fight, put this game indoors and I believe the game isn’t as close as it was. Miami is sneaking their way up the NCHC ladder, clawing away at the point difference to Omaha.
3. Minnesota-Duluth 17-10-1 USCHO 6 pairwise 5
Coming off a non-conference sweep of Northern Michigan, UMD is playing just like their 2011 national championship team right now and solidifying that the NCHC are the non-conference kings this season. I can’t wait to see how the Dogs finish out their season because they have been a lot of fun to watch so far.
5. Denver 16-9-1 USCHO 9 pairwise 9
Well, the Pioneers made the road trip Friday night to Colorado Springs for another one game battle with Colorado College, winning 3-0. Going up to North Dakota this weekend, Denver will have their word cut out for them and should be happy if they get out of there with a split.
6. Western Michigan 11-11-4 USCHO N/R pairwise T25
The Broncos put up one heck of a fight against Miami Saturday in the Hockey City Classic, but fell just short. However, this is another sneaky team that could send one of the top NCHC teams home early come playoff time and sneak their way back to the Target Center.
7. St. Cloud 12-13-1 USCHO N/R pairwise T22
This team having a bye week could help them out a lot going down the stretch run. The Huskies look to refocus and battle their way into the Frozen Faceoff come March.
8. Colorado College. USCHO N/R pairwise 48
The only NCHC team without 10 victories and the only one outside the top 25 in the pairwise, the Tigers are looking for anything good to look at after getting shutout at home Friday night against Denver.
