Goon's WCHA Power Rankings 1/15/2012

This is my weekly WCHA Power Rankings for INSIDE HOCKEY, Zack Friedli from Hockey State of Mind and I do a weekly WCHA Power Rankings.

1.  Minnesota Duluth – (11-3-2 WCHA, 15-4-3) The Bulldogs split with the UNO Mavericks (6-2 W, 3-1 L) in Omaha, Nebraska. The Bulldogs return home to play the University of Alabama Huntsville Chargers.

2. Minnesota – (12-4-0 WCHA, 16-8-1) Minnesota split with North Dakota (1-2 L, W 6-2 W). This weekend the Gophers entertain the Colorado College Tigers at Mariucci Arena. Minnesota is 7-7-1 in their last 15 games.

3.  Denver – (8-5-3 WCHA, 13-8-3). This past weekend the Pioneers swept the Bemidji State Beavers (6-3 W, 3-2 W) in Denver Colorado. This weekend the Pioneers are off.

4. Colorado College – (13-8-1 WCHA, 10-6-0) The Tigers split their weekend series with the Saint Cloud State Huskies (3-1 W, 3-4 O.T. L). This weekend the Tigers travel to Minneapolis, Minnesota to play the Gophers.

5.  Nebraska-Omaha – (8-5-3 WCHA, 11-9-4) The Mavericks split with top ranked Minnesota Duluth this past weekend in Omaha, Nebraska (2-6 L, 3-1 W). The Mavericks will travel to play the Purple Mavericks of Minnesota State University Minnesota.  

6.  North Dakota – (8-8-0, 12-9-2) The University of North Dakota split with Minnesota this past weekend (2-1 W, 6-2 L). This weekend, North Dakota travels to Saint Cloud to play their rival the SCSU Huskies. The University of North Dakota has been hit by the Injury Ninja and the following players are “currently out” of the line up for UND, Rocco Grimaldi (knee), Derek Forbort (unknown), Brendan O'Donnell(shoulder)and Derek Rodwell (shoulder, season ending).

7.  Michigan Tech – (8-7-1 WCHA, 11-11-1) The Michigan Tech Huskies swept the hapless University of Anchorage Alaska Seawolves (6-2, 6-4) in Houghton, Michigan.  This weekend the Michigan Tec Huskies entertain their cross state rivals from Northern Michigan.   

8. St. Cloud State – (6-7-3 WCHA, 9-11-4) The Huskies split their weekend series with the Colorado College Tigers (1-3 L, 4-3 O.T. W). The Huskies entertain the North Dakota this weekend at the National Hockey Center.

9. Wisconsin – (5-9-2 WCHA, 10-10-2) The Wisconsin Badgers have an impressive 9-4-1 record at home and after splitting with Minnesota State Mankato on the road this past weekend, the Badgers now have an unimpressive 1-6-1 record away from the Kohl Center. With the weekend split in Mankato, the Badgers have never swept the Minnesota State Mavericks in Mankato. This weekend the Badgers entertain the University of Alaska Anchorage Seawolves.

10. Bemidji State – (5-9-2 WCHA, 11-11-2) The Beavers were swept by Denver University in Denver (3-6 L, 2-3 L).  The Beavers are off this weekend.

11. Alaska-Anchorage – (3-12-1 WCHA, 6-12-2) The Seawolves were swept by the Michigan Tech Huskies (2-6 L, 4-6 L) in Houghton Michigan this past weekend. This weekend the Seawolves travel to Madison, Wisconsin to play the Badgers.

12.  Minnesota State – (3-12-1 WCHA, 7-16-1) The Minnesota State Mavericks split their series with the Wisconsin Badgers (0-4 L, 3-0 W). With the win the Mavericks broke a 10 game winless streak in WCHA play, dating back to November 11^th, 2011. Extending a streak; after this weekend’s split against the Badgers, the Mavericks have never been swept by Wisconsin Badgers in Mankato, Minnesota. This weekend the Mavericks entertain the Red Mavericks from Nebraska Omaha at the Verizon Wireless Center. 

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