In my humble opinion, there are two tiers that are starting to emerge in the WCHA. You have the first tier; this is the top six teams that all have at least 12 wins in their over-all record. You also have your bottom six teams, this is the second tier. These teams all have eight or less wins. Also, all but Minnesota and North Dakota have played 14 league games.
1. Minnesota Gophers – (13-3-3, WCHA 6-3-3) – This past weekend, the Minnesota Gophers were off. This Tuesday, the Gophers will play the Notre Dame Fighting Irish in a single nonconference game at Marriucci Arena. This game has significant Pairwise Ranking implications for Minnesota and the rest of the WCHA, because the WCHA has a 10-15-1 record the CCHA. The Gophers also entertain the UAA Seawolves in a two game WCHA series.
2. University of North Dakota – (12-5-3, WCHA 7-2-3) – This past weekend, UND Swept their (5-2 W – 3-2 w) nonconference series against Holy Cross at Ralph Englestad Arena. This weekend, UND entertains Colorado College at the Ralph Englestad Arena in an important two game conference series.
3. Denver University – (12-6-3, WCHA 7-4-3) – This past weekend, the Denver Pioneers swept (5-1 W – 2-1 W) by ECAC foe Cornell in a nonconference series in Magness Arena. This weekend, the Pioneers entertain the University of Nebraska Omaha Mavericks in an important two game series at Magness Arena.
4. Minnesota State Mankato – (14-6-2, WCHA 8-6-0) – This past weekend, the Mavericks swept (4-3 O.T. W – 4-0 W) Hockey East Foe Providence at the Verizon Wireless Center, in Mankato, Minnesota. This weekend, the Mavericks entertain the Wisconsin Badgers in a two WCHA series at the Western Wireless Center. The Badgers will be looking to avenge an earlier sweep by the Mavericks at the Kohl Center, in Madison, Wisconsin.
5. Nebraska Omaha – (13-8-1, WCHA 9-4-1) – This past weekend, the Mavericks swept (8-4 W – 3-1 W) the Colorado College Tigers at the CenturyLink Center in Omaha, Nebraska. This weekend, the Mavericks travel to Denver to play the Pioneers in an important two game WCHA series.
6. Saint Cloud State – (12-10-0, WCHA 9-5-0) – This past weekend, the Huskies were swept (2-6 L – 1-2 L) by Northern Michigan, in a two game nonconference series at the National Hockey Center. This weekend, the Huskies are off.
7. Michigan Tech – (6-10-3, WCHA 3-8-3) – This past weekend, the Huskies were off. This weekend, the Michigan Tech Huskies travel to Duluth, Minnesota play the Bulldogs in a two game WCHA series at the Amsoil Arena.
8. Wisconsin – (6-7-5, WCHA 4-5-5) – This past weekend, the Wisconsin Badgers swept (5-3 W – 1-0 W) a very bad UAA Seawolves team at Sullivan Arena in Anchorage Alaska. This weekend, the Badgers travel to Mankato to play the Minnesota State Mavericks in a pivotal two game WCHA series. While some want to declare the Badgers a team on the rise, they have beaten one team from the upper part of the standings (Denver) this season. True, Wisconsin has won four games in a row but they have played UAA and UAH two teams with a combined record of 4-27-5.
9. Minnesota Duluth – (7-10-3, WCHA 5-6-3) – This past weekend, the Bulldogs were off. This weekend, The Bulldogs entertain the Michigan Tech Huskies at Amsoil Arena in a two game WCHA conference series.
10. Colorado College – (8-12-2, WCHA 5-8-1) – This past weekend, the Colorado College Tigers were swept (4-8 L – 1-3 L) by the Nebraska Omaha Mavericks. This weekend, the Tigers travel to Grand Forks, ND to play UND in an important two game WCHA series. The Tigers come to Grand Forks mired in a horrible slump; the Tigers have one win in the last 12 games (1-9-2). The Tigers are also winless in the last seven games.
11. Bemidji State – (5-11-4, WCHA 4-7-3) – This past weekend, the Beavers recorded a tie (0-6 L – 2-2 T) in their nonconference series against the Western Michigan Broncos. This weekend, the Beavers are off.
12. Alaska Anchorage – (3-11-4, WCHA 1-10-3) – This past weekend, Seawolves were swept (3-5 L – 0-1 L) by the Wisconsin Badgers at the Sullivan Arena. This weekend, the Seawolves travel to Minnesota to play the Gophers in a two game series at Marriucci Arena. The Seawolves are mired in horrible streak and have won one game in the last 14 games (1-10-3).
Taylor Seibel Power Rankings
1. North Dakota – (12-5-3, 7-2-3 WCHA) – North Dakota swept their non-conference series with Holy Cross, dominating Friday in a 5-2 victory before coming back for a 3-2 win on Saturday. UND hosts Colorado College in WCHA play next weekend.
2. Minnesota – (13-3-3, 6-3-3 WCHA) – The Gophers did not play this weekend, but they have a huge non-conference game against Notre Dame on Tuesday. Following the midweek matchup with the Irish, Minnesota hosts Alaska Anchorage in WCHA play.
3. Denver – (12-6-3, 7-4-3 WCHA) – The Pioneers may be over the mid-season swoon, as DU swept Cornell in non-conference play this weekend. Denver hosts Nebraska Omaha in a key WCHA series next weekend.
4. Minnesota State – (14-6-2, 8-6-0 WCHA) – Another week, another sweep. The Mavericks are on fire right now, having won 11 of their last 12 games. Next weekend, the Wisconsin Badgers travel to Mankato.
5. Nebraska Omaha – (13-8-1, 9-4-1 WCHA) – Following a disappointing weekend in Connecticut, UNO responded with a sound sweep of the CC Tigers in conference action this weekend, vaulting these Mavs to the top of the WCHA standings. Next weekend, UNO travels to Denver.
6. St. Cloud State – (12-10-0, 9-5-0 WCHA) – The Huskies are on a slide of late, as they were swept at home by Northern Michigan of the CCHA. SCSU is 1-3-0 in their last 4 since Christmas. They are off next weekend.
7. Wisconsin – (6-7-5, 4-5-5 WCHA) – Wisconsin swept WCHA foe Alaska Anchorage this weekend to extend their unbeaten streak (that unsurprisingly corresponds to when star forward Nic Kerdiles joined the team) to 8 games (5-0-3), including a 4 game winning streak. Wisconsin travels to Mankato next weekend for a key WCHA series for the Badgers.
8. Michigan Tech – (6-10-3, 3-8-3 WCHA) – The Huskies were off this weekend. Tech looks to continue their winning ways following their GLI championship next weekend as the Huskies travel to Minnesota Duluth in WCHA play.
9. Colorado College – (8-12-2, 5-8-1 WCHA) – The Tigers were swept again in WCHA play this weekend at Omaha. CC has struggled mightily of late, winning just once in their last 12 games, going 1-9-2 in that stretch. Next weekend, the Tigers travel to North Dakota in WCHA play.
10. Minnesota Duluth – (7-10-3, 5-6-3 WCHA) – The Bulldogs were off this past weekend, but hope to right the ship following a disappointing performance in the Florida College Classic. Next weekend, the Bulldogs host Michigan Tech in WCHA action.
11. Bemidji State – (5-11-4, 4-7-3 WCHA) – The Beavers hosted CCHA power Western Michigan this weekend, but only managed a loss and a draw against the Broncos. Next weekend Bemidji is off.
12. Alaska Anchorage – (3-11-4, 1-10-3 WCHA) – UAA hosted Wisconsin this weekend, but the Seawolves came away with no points, getting swept for their third consecutive series, this time by the Badgers. Next weekend, UAA travels to Minnesota to take on the Gophers in WCHA play.
