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Here is the week 17 WCHA Power Rankings. This season, I have been doing the WCHA Power Rankings with Taylor Seibel, who is a contributor for College Hockey Weekly.
1. Minnesota – (18-4-4, WCHA 10-4-4) – This past week, the Minnesota Gophers were off. This weekend, the Gophers travel to Saint Cloud to play the Huskies at the National Hockey Center. This series could decide who wins the WCHA regular season title.
3. University of North Dakota – (14-8-6, WCHA 9-5-6) – This past weekend, UND took (1-1 T – 4-1 W) three points against the Wisconsin Badgers at Ralph Engelstad Arena. The weekend, UND travels to Omaha to play the Nebraska-Omaha Mavericks in a two game series at the CenturyLink Center on Friday night. Saturday’s game will move outdoors to the TD Ameritrade Park. UND and UNO have played six times in their history and they have a 3-3-0 record against each other.
4. Nebraska Omaha – (16-10-2, WCHA 12-6-2) – This past weekend, the Mavericks split (4-3 W – 1-2 L) their weekend series with the Michigan Tech Huskies as the CenturyLink Center in Omaha. This weekend, the Mavericks entertain North Dakota at the CenturyLink Center on Friday night. Saturday’s game will move outdoors to the TD Ameritrade Park. UNO and UND have played six times in their history and they have a 3-3-0 record against each other.
5. Denver University – (15-8-4, WCHA 10-6-4) – This past weekend, the Denver Pioneers swept (3-0 W – 4-3 W) the Bulldogs at Amsoil Arena. This weekend, the Pioneers play the Colorado College Tigers in a home and home series.
6. Minnesota State Mankato – (16-9-3, WCHA 10-9-1) – This past weekend, the Mavericks were off. This weekend, the Mavericks travel to Duluth to play the Minnesota Duluth Bulldogs at Amsoil Arena.
7. Wisconsin – (11-9-6, WCHA 8-6-6) – This past weekend, the Wisconsin Badgers took (1-1 T – 1-4 L) one point against North Dakota at Ralph Engelstad Arena. This weekend, the Badgers entertain the 11th place Bemidji State Beavers at the Kohl Center. The Badgers have a 6-0-0 record all-time against the Beavers.
8. Colorado College – (10-14-4, WCHA 7-10-4) – This past weekend, the Colorado College Tigers took (3-3 T – 2-2 T) two points against the Alaska Anchorage Seawolves at Sullivan Arena. This weekend the Tigers play the Denver Pioneers in a home and home series.
9. Minnesota Duluth – (10-13-3, WCHA 8-9-3) – This past weekend, the Bulldogs were swept (0-3 L – 3-4 L) by the Denver Pioneers at Amsoil Arena. This weekend, the Bulldogs entertain the Minnesota State Mavericks at Amsoil Arena. Saturday night, the Bulldogs had a 3-1 lead going into the third period before giving up three goals in 91 seconds to lose 4-3.
10. Michigan Tech – (8-13-4, WCHA 5-11-4) – This past weekend, the Huskies split (3-4 L – 2-1 W) their weekend series with Nebraska-Omaha at the CentryLink Center. This weekend, the Huskies entertain the last place Alaska Anchorage Seawovles during the Winter Carnival.
11. Bemidji State – (5-16-5, WCHA 4-12-4) – This past weekend, the Beavers were swept (0-4 L 1-4 L) by the Saint Cloud State Huskies at the Sanford Center. This weekend, the Beavers travel to the Kohl Center to play the Wisconsin Badgers. The Beavers are winless in 10 games (0-8-2), and they have not won since December, 15, 2012. The Beavers are 0-6-0 all-time against the Badgers.
12. Alaska Anchorage – (3-16-7, WCHA 1-15-4) – This past weekend, Seawolves took (2-2 T – 3-3 T) two points from the Colorado College Tigers at Sullivan Arena. This weekend, the Seawolves travel to Houghton Michigan to play the Huskies at the John MacInnes Student Ice Arena during the Winter Carnival. The Seawolves are mired in horrible streak and have won one game in the last 20 games (1-15-6), breaking it down further the Seawolves have not won since December 1, 2012.
Taylor Seibel’s WCHA Power Rankings
1. St. Cloud State – (17-10-1, 14-5-1 WCHA) – The Huskies are on a roll following a weekend sweep over Bemidji State. In conference play, SCSU is 8-0-1 in their last 9 WCHA games. St. Cloud hosts Minnesota in a pivotal series next weekend that could very well determine who will win Big Jim’s Cup.
2. Minnesota – (18-4-4, 10-4-4 WCHA) – The Gophers were off this past weekend. Minnesota is second in the league in winning percentage, and still has a tremendous chance of winning the WCHA for the second consecutive season. Next weekend, a trip to St. Cloud is in store for the Gophers.
3. North Dakota – (14-8-6, 9-5-6 WCHA) – North Dakota finally ended their 5 game winless streak, the longest during Coach Hakstol’s tenure, with a 4-1 victory on Saturday over Wisconsin. The 3 points vaulted North Dakota into a three-way tie for third in conference. Next weekend, North Dakota takes on former coach Dean Blais and his UNO Mavericks.
4. Nebraska Omaha – (16-10-2, 12-6-2 WCHA) – The Mavericks struggled with the visiting Michigan Tech Huskies this weekend, scoring only a split. Next weekend, North Dakota comes to Omaha in a key WCHA series for both sides, and the series will include an outdoor game on Saturday.
5. Denver – (15-8-4, 10-6-4 WCHA) – Denver used a furious rally late in the third period on Saturday to complete a sweep over Duluth in Duluth. Next weekend, the Gold Pan will be on the line, as Denver squares off against in-state rival Colorado College.
6. Wisconsin – (11-9-6, 8-6-6 WCHA) – The Badgers were only able to take one point in Grand Forks this weekend, largely due to an ineffective special teams unit. On the weekend, the Badgers were 0-8 on the powerplay, while North Dakota scored 3 of their 5 goals with the man advantage. Next weekend, the Badgers host Bemidji State in WCHA play.
7. Minnesota State – (16-9-3, 10-9-1 WCHA) – The Mavericks were off this past weekend. Mankato has an excellent shot at home ice this season, but they will need to continue to play solid hockey. Next weekend, the Mavericks travel to Minnesota Duluth to take on the Bulldogs in WCHA action.
8. Colorado College – (10-14-4, 7-10-3 WCHA) – The Tigers missed a golden opportunity to tally up points in the conference by managing only 2 draws against Alaska Anchorage this weekend. The Tigers road to home ice doesn’t get any easier next weekend, as arch-rival Denver is on the schedule in a crucial home and home series to decide the Gold Pan.
9. Minnesota Duluth – (10-13-3, 8-9-3 WCHA) – The Bulldogs were minutes away from a convincing victory on Saturday over Denver, but collapsed and watched their weekend end with 0 points. Next weekend, the Bulldogs look to get back on their feet as they host Minnesota State in WCHA play.
10. Michigan Tech – (8-13-4, 5-11-4 WCHA) – The Huskies surprised many with an overtime victory on Saturday in their series with Omaha to take 2 points. Of Michigan Tech’s 5 WCHA wins this season, 3 of them have come in OT, giving the Huskies an impressive 3-0-4 record in the extra session in conference play. Tech hosts Alaska Anchorage next weekend.
11. Bemidji State – (5-15-5, 4-12-4 WCHA) – Taking on St. Cloud State is no easy task, and that proved true this weekend for the Beavers as the Huskies swept Bemidji in Bemidji. Next weekend, the Beavers travel to Madison to take on the Badgers, and they hope to end their winless streak that dates back to December 15th.
12. Alaska Anchorage – (3-16-7, 1-15-6 WCHA) – The Seawolves managed two draws against the visiting Tigers from Colorado College this weekend. UAA’s six draws in conference play ties them with North Dakota and Wisconsin for the most sister-kissers this season. Next weekend, UAA travels to Houghton to take on Michigan Tech in WCHA play.
