For the second straight week, the University of Minnesota hockey team is the top-ranked team in the country in both national polls. The Gophers (10-2-0, 7-1-0 WCHA) maintain the #1 ranking despite splitting a two-game road series this weekend with Wisconsin.
↵The Badgers won 3-1 Friday night while the Maroon and Gold rebounded Saturday with a 4-1 victory over their rival.
↵Although Minnesota is still the top ranked team in the USCHO.com and USA Today poll, undefeated Merrimack is a close second and within 15 points of the Gophers. The Warriors, who were ranked sixth last week, beat Boston University 3-2 in overtime to improve to 8-0-1 and received more first-place votes in both polls. Merrimack does have consolation as they are #1 in the Inside College Hockey rankings with Minnesota #2.
↵Boston College, Notre Dame and Colorado College round out the top five. Minnesota-Duluth is ranked eighth, up two spots from last week, and the Bulldogs are the only other nationally ranked team from Minnesota. Wisconsin got some consideration for splitting with the Gophers with 16 votes but the Badgers are not one of 6 WCHA teams ranked in the top 20.