SB Nation’s NCAA Poll: Welcome Back

Teams are playing hockey again after a few weeks off. The weekend featured a pair of matchups between teams in our poll and they did not disappoint.

We have returned from the holiday break and many teams are back in action, the next week should see the rest back on the ice.

1. Wisconsin (18-1-3), 90 (9) — Last poll: 1

  • Last week: W 5-2 v Quinnipiac (1/1), T 1-1 OT v Quinnipiac (1/2)
  • Coming Week: No Games/

The Badgers have put themselves squarely in the drivers seat for the top seed in the tournament this year that for the first time will not have geography play a role in addition to the expanded field which will certainly help them en route to likely yet another national title. This week saw them play host to a very good Quinnipiac team taking the weekend and earning the title of ‘Belles of the Ball’ once again. Wisconsin will now take the week off.

2. Ohio State (15-3-0), 78 — Last poll: 2

  • Last week: No Games
  • Coming Week: v Lindenwood (1/7, 1/8) /

The Buckeyes return to action next week but will not be challenging themselves as they play host to Lindenwood to start the calendar year.

3. Quinnipiac (15-2-3), 67 — Last poll: 5

  • Last week: L 2-5 @ Wisconsin (1/1), T 1-1 OT @ Wisconsin (1/2)
  • Coming Week: v St. Lawrence (1/7), v Clarkson (1/8) /

The Bobcats could say they were a little unlikely to only get a tie out of the weekend but they just couldn’t hang with the defending champs, the results were good enough to move them up in the poll though. This weekend brings a pair of conference foes to Hamden.

4. Minnesota (14-5-1), 62 — Last poll: T-3

  • Last week: No Games
  • Coming Week: v St. Thomas (1/8), @ St. Thomas (1/9)/

The Gophers will compete in a rare WCHA home-and-home series as the take on the Tommies.

5. Northeastern (16-2-1), 61 — Last poll: T-3

  • Last week: No Games
  • Coming Week: v Merrimack (1/7), @ Merrimack (1/8)/

Northeastern looks to continue their winning ways as they play Merrimack.

6. Minnesota-Duluth (11-7-0), 43 — Last poll: 6

  • Last week: W 5-2 @ Harvard (12/31), W 4-3 @ Harvard (1/1)
  • Coming Week: @ St. Cloud State (1/7, 1/8)/

The Bulldogs traveled east and were able to take both games against Harvard. They now head up to St. Cloud for two games.

7. Colgate (15-4-1), 40 — Last poll: 7

  • Last week: No Games
  • Coming Week: v Harvard (1/7), v Dartmouth (1/8)/

Colgate will get a pair of ECAC games as they look to get back to the top of the table.

8. Yale (10-3-1), 26 — Last poll: 8

  • Last week: No Games
  • Coming Week: v Sacred Heart (1/4), v Union (1/7), v Rensselaer (1/8)/

Yale will open this week with a game against Sacred Heart before a pair of games from he bottom of the ECAC.

9. Clarkson (15-2-3), 12 — Last poll: 10

  • Last week: No Games
  • Coming Week: @ Princeton (1/7), @ Quinnipiac (1/8)/

The Golden Knights have a chance to move back to the top of the ECAC when they travel to Quinnipiac, they have to take care of business against Princeton first though.

10. Harvard (9-5-0), 8 — Last poll: 9

  • Last week: L 2-5 v Minnesota-Duluth (12/31), L 3-4 v Minnesota-Duluth (1/1)
  • Coming Week: @ Colgate (1/7), @ Cornell (1/8)/

Harvard looks to rebound after a pair of tough losses against Duluth as they head over to New York for a tough pair of games.

Also Receiving Votes: Providence 7, Princeton 1