NCHC Power Rankings

1. North Dakota (16-5-2, 7-4-1 NCHC) USCHO: 2 Pairwise: 4

This past weekend, UND swept non-conference foe Niagara (7-1 W, 5-0 W). The results shouldn’t shock anyone; Niagara came into this weekend series as the worst team in division I college hockey and they showed me very little.

This weekend, UND plays another team that’s struggling. The Colorado College Tigers invade Ralph Engelstad Arena for a two-game conference series.

2 Nebraska-Omaha (15-6-3, 9-4-1 NCHC) USCHO: 8 Pairwise: 2

This past weekend, the Nebraska-Omaha Mavericks split their conference series with the Colorado College Tigers (3-4 L, 4-1 W). The Mavericks have the dubious honor of being the first team in the NCHC to lose to the Tigers.

That loss has Mavericks fans asking questions. I also wonder if Ryan Lambert of Puck Daddy will finally be right for a change. Last week, Lambert predicted, “Omaha will fall off, but might have enough points banked that it doesn’t make a difference.”

This weekend, the Mavericks are idle.

3. Minnesota-Duluth (13-8-1, 8-5-1 NCHC) USCHO: 7 Pairwise: 5

This past weekend, the Minnesota-Duluth Bulldogs recorded a single point (2-2 T, 2-4 L) against the WMU Broncos. UMD lost the shootout to the Broncos on Friday night.

This weekend, UMD plays the Bemidji Beavers in the first round of the North Star College Cup. The two other teams participating in the NSCC are Minnesota, Minnesota State.

4. Miami (14-8-0, 7-5-0 NCHC) USCHO: 9 Pairwise 6

This past weekend, the RedHawks were idle.

This weekend, the RedHawks entertain the Denver Pioneers in an important two-game series. The RedHawks are looking to rebound after being swept by the Saint Cloud State Huskies two weeks ago.

5. Denver (13-7-1, 6-5-0 NCHC) USCHO: 11 Pairwise: 12

The University of Denver is a hard team to figure out. After getting swept by Nebraska-Omaha Mavericks the week before, the Pioneers get some redemption by sweeping (3-1 W, 4-1 W) the St. Cloud State Huskies at home.

This week, Denver travels to Oxford to play the Miami RedHawks. This should prove to be an interesting series. Last season, Miami lost to Denver in the championship game of the Frozen Faceoff.

6. Western Michigan (10-9-3, 3-6-3 NCHC) USCHO: N/R Pairwise: 21

The Western Michigan Broncos are a team on the rise. The Broncos are 7-1-2 in the last 10 games and took five-of-six points (2-2 T, 4-2 W) against the Minnesota-Duluth Bulldogs.

This weekend, the Broncos travel to St. Cloud State to play the Huskies.

7. St. Cloud (9-12-1, 4-7-1 NCHC) USCHO: N/R Pairwise: 24

The Huskies are the NCHC’s Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. A week after sweeping the Miami RedHawks in St. Cloud, the Huskies traveled to Denver and were swept (1-3 L, 1-4 L). What should concern Husky fans is their inability to score goals.

This weekend, the Huskies entertain the Western Michigan Broncos.

8. Colorado College (5-13-1, 1-9-1 NCHC) USCHO: N/R Pairwise: 41

Last week, I said that the Colorado College Tigers were a bad hockey team, I stand by those comments. Colorado College is ranked 45th in goal scoring and 56th in team defense. The Tigers are giving up an average of four goals per game and only scoring 2.26.

To beat the Tigers, you have to get to three.

The Colorado College Tigers split their weekend series with the Nebraska-Omaha Mavericks (4-3 W, 1-4L) at home. As I mention earlier, the UNO Mavericks had the dubious honor of being the first team in the NCHC to lose to the Tigers.

This weekend, the Tigers travel to Grand Forks, ND, to play the University of North Dakota in a two-game conference center.