INCH Power Rankings

As always I include the INCH Power Rankings because they are worth a look, I am actually shocked that they picked UND number 1. UMD and DU seem to be dropping in the rankings.

1. North Dakota 1 Forward Brett Hextall, who scored three goals in his first 23 games this season, scored three more in the Fighting Sioux's tie and win at St. Cloud State. He has five goals and two assists in his last five games. 22-8-3 (17-6-1 WCHA) LAST WEEK: T at St. Cloud State, 3-3 ot; W at St. Cloud State, 3-2. THIS WEEK: vs. Bemidji State, vs. Bemidji State
2. Boston College
3. Yale
4. Union
5. Merrimack
6. Miami
7. New Hampshire
8. Denver
9. Minnesota Duluth
10. Michigan
11. Notre Dame
12. Rensselaer
13. Nebraska-Omaha
14. Boston University
15. Wisconsin
16. Western Michigan
17. Cornell
18. RIT
19. Robert Morris
20. Minnesota
Dropped out: Dartmouth, Colorado College
Bubble-licious: Maine, Dartmouth, Princeton, Colorado College

So you don't like our refs?

I found this comment over on INCH's first shift to be interesting. All I would say is welcome to the club buddy; most of us in the WCHA nation aren't all that thrilled with the quality of our officials either.

In the first half I can only think of three games when we were in the box a lot, the game against Brown and two games at St. Cloud, but we were a road team against the WCHA in those.”

One of the topics of conversations in last week’s ECAC Hockey notebook was that Quinnipiac is among the least-penalized teams in the nation. Bobcats head coach Rand Pecknold offered the above reflection on the first half of the season with a chuckle months after the fact. It’s not a criticism of the officials, but we felt it was worthy to share simply for the reason that a number of other coaches and fans are probably saying, “Yeah, I’ve seen that movie before.”

INCH Power Rankings

As always I include the INCH Power Rankings, because they are worth a look... Of course Yale on top of the rankings again after ripping through weak sisters of the poor from the Holy Cross... Seriously! The only poll that really matters is the one that is going to be looked at on March 19th 2011.

INCH Power Rankings
[January 2, 2011]
1. Yale
2. North Dakota - As if the Sioux needed any more offensive weaponry, previously slumbering sophomore forward Danny Kristo has a goal and six assists in his last four games. 14-5-2 (11-3-0 WCHA) RECENT SCORES: W at Minnesota Duluth, 5-0. THIS WEEK: vs. Robert Morris, vs. Robert Morris
3. New Hampshire
4. Boston College
5. Minnesota Duluth
6. Michigan
7. Denver
8. Rensselaer
9. Miami
10. Maine
11. Nebraska-Omaha
12. Union
13. Wisconsin
14. Notre Dame
15. Merrimack
16. Boston University
17. Alaska
18. Robert Morris
19. Colorado College
20. Clarkson
Dropped out: Ferris State
Bubble-licious: Dartmouth, Ferris State, Niagara, Princeton, Western Michigan

Sioux drop to 7th in the INCH Power Rankings

INCH Power Rankings
[October 24, 2010]
1. Boston College
2. Miami
3. Minnesota Duluth
4. Michigan
5. Boston University
6. Maine
7. North Dakota - The last time the Fighting Sioux got swept by a non-conference opponent? Why, that was Oct. 20-21, 2006, when Maine won two games at Engelstad Arena.3-2-1 (2-0-0 WCHA) LAST WEEK: L at Maine, 7-3; L at Maine, 4-2. THIS WEEK: vs. Denver, vs. Denver
8. Yale
9. Union
10. Michigan State
11. New Hampshire
12. Denver
13. Notre Dame
14. Nebraska-Omaha
15. Alaska
16. Rensselaer
17. Wisconsin
18. Cornell
19. Robert Morris
20. Western Michigan
Dropped out: St. Cloud State

Bubble-licious: Colorado College, Michigan Tech, Quinnpiac, St. Cloud State

INCH Chat...

Here is the transcripts of the INCH chat from ESPN. Joe Gladiziszewski picks the Fighting Sioux to win the NCAA tourney.

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Eric J (Grand Forks, ND )


Gladdy, do you think the Fighting Sioux can make a run to the Frozen Four and win with their goaltending?

Joe Gladziszewski (2:33 PM)


Yes and yes. Eidsness was good enough last weekend at the WCHA Final Five is as tough a tournament as the NCAAs. I think North Dakota is a good pick to come out of that region, despite it being closer to home for Boston College. Both teams are playing so well right now that it's tough to make a call.
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Scott (California)

Two questions: Is Michigan the team you would least like to face if you were a #1 seed and are you going to do a podcast on the Wish List Draft to elaborate on the picks you made?

Joe Gladziszewski (2:36 PM)


I think Cornell, St. Cloud State and North Dakota are the most dangerous teams of the non-number ones, but Michigan just beat Miami last weekend, so that has to be fresh. It's the team that No. 1-seed Miami would probably least like to face.There is a podcast for the Wish List draft. Link is on the Wish List Draft page, INCH front, and in our iTunes feed. Thanks for listening.
-------------------------
scott (minot north dakota)


North Dakota plays a extremely physical game. Will the teams in that region be able to handle that kind of play, will speed neutralize North Dakota's style, or will tighter officiating from non WCHA refs force North Dakota to change its style of play.

Joe Gladziszewski (2:45 PM)


If you change your style of play at this time of the year, you've got bigger problems than killing off a few extra penalties (if necessary). I don't think Yale will be intimidated by a physical presence. That's the scouting report they play against all season in ECAC Hockey. Teams try to play them tough, and they still led the nation in scoring average. Same goes with Boston College or Alaska (potentially) in the second round, should North Dakota advance
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Mark (St. Paul)

You're Hakstol and Genoway tells you he's healthy enough to go. Do you put him out there and hope he adds offense at the blue line, or do you tell him to sit out since the team is playing so well without him and he may be rusty

Jess Myers (2:47 PM)


I usually shy away from hypotheticals, but this is an outstanding question. There is not a team in the nation that would not be helped by having a healthy Chay Genoway in uniform, but I guess if I were Coach Hakostol I'd have to keep him out at this point in the season for two reasons. First, as you said, he'd be rusty and the Sioux are doing fine as-is right now, but secondly, to insert him into the lineup now would mean he cannot apply for a hardship and come back next year, so I think the promise of a full 2010-11 season makes more sense than up to four more games this year.
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Fred (Boston)

Which program do you believe has the top line in the nation?

Joe Gladziszewski (2:53 PM)

Fantastic question because it's so difficult to answer. Denver's group of Colborne, Rakhshani and Ruegsegger is the best in my opinion. There are a lot to choose from. North Dakota's group with VandeVelde, Gregoire and Hextall is playing great right now, as are BC's bunch with Gibbons-Whitney-Atkinson and Nash-Greening-Kennedy at Cornell.
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Mark (Fargo, ND)

Are you guys going to rock-out the East Coast Bias.... Who wins between UND and BC if they meet in the Regional Finals?

Joe Gladziszewski (3:11 PM)

Well, as an upstate NY lifer who primarily covers ECAC Hockey, I lean toward North Dakota to win that game. But Mike Eidelbes, a WCHA/CCHA guy from Northern Minnesota leans toward Boston College. You can decide on which way we're biased.
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Joe Gladziszewski (3:31 PM)

I'll take North Dakota over Miami in one semifinal, Cornell over Wisconsin in the other semi, and North Dakota beats Cornell for the title -- potential third game of the year between those teams after they split a series in the regular season.
-------------------------

INCH Power Rankings

As always I include the INCH Power Rankings to give you something to look at on Monday morning. Yep we are to believe that Yale is the 4th best team in the country? I dont' think so, I would love to see my favorite team play them in the first round of the NCAA tourney. Breaking down the special teams play this past weekend; UND went 1-3 on power play on [Friday night] and 4/7 on [Saturday night] UND also had a short handed goal on Saturday so 5/8 goals scored were on special teams on Saturday night.

1. Miami
2. Denver
3. Wisconsin
4. Yale
5. St. Cloud State
6. Colorado College
7. Cornell
8. Michigan State
9. Minnesota Duluth
10. North Dakota 1 The Fighting Sioux power play, which had failed to score in each of its last 32 man-advantage opportunities entering last weekend’s series at St. Cloud State, connected five times in 10 chances against the Huskies. 14-11-5 (9-10-3 WCHA) LAST WEEK: L at St. Cloud State, 4-3; W at St. Cloud State, 8-1. THIS WEEK: vs. Minnesota Duluth, vs. Minnesota Duluth
11. Boston College
12. Bemidji State
13. Union
14. Ferris State
15. Maine
16. New Hampshire
17. Nebraska-Omaha
18. Rensselaer
19. Boston University
20. Northern Michigan
Dropped out: St. Lawrence, Michigan, Massachusetts
Bubble-licious: Alaska, Northeastern, RIT, St. Lawrence

INCH Power Rankings

As always I include the INCH power rankings. Just for your information Cornell is 15th, Yale is 17th and UNION is 18th in the Pairwise Rankings.
1. Miami
2. Denver
3. Wisconsin
4. St. Cloud State
5. Yale
6. Cornell
8. Michigan State
9. North Dakota
10. Bemidji State
11. Minnesota Duluth
12. Boston College
13. Union
14. Maine
15. Ferris State
16. St. Lawrence
17. New Hampshire
18. Rensselaer
19. Michigan
20. Massachusetts

Dropped out: UMass Lowell
Bubble-licious: Alaska, Vermont, Boston University

INCH Chat.

I have to admit that I haven't been a big fan of INCH in the past but I have to admit that Gladdy is definately growing on me. I think of all of the INCH writers I think he is the most even handed. Funny he has more confidence in the Fighting Sioux than some of our fan base.

Bert (Titletown, ND)
Gladdy you seem to have more confidence in UND than most of the UND faithful. Why?

Joe Gladziszewski (2:39 PM)

Must be because I'm from a different part of the country and not saddled with the lifelong stigma that North Dakota is always under-appreciated when good, and absolutely terrible when not in first place. I like the team's grit and scoring depth primarily. They're a tough team to play against, and even in several losses I think they've outplayed their opponents. The worm's gotta turn. [INCH Chat]

INCH Power Rankings

As always I include the INCH Power Rankings. I don't know if I would have ranked UND as the fourth ranked team in the nation. I am thinking more like 10th over-all. Maybe I would rank UND that high with Chay Genoway and Brett Hextall in the line up but not without them. UND is 4-2-2 in the second half of the season.
1. Miami
2. Wisconsin
3. Denver
4. North Dakota 3 We mentioned it in this space last week, but it bears repeating: the Fighting Sioux have eight losses this season and all but one of them have been by one goal. The latest was a 1-0 loss at Cornell Friday, but NoDak salvaged the non-conference series with a 3-1 win Saturday. 13-8-5 (8-7-3 WCHA) LAST WEEK: L at Cornell, 1-0; W at Cornell, 3-1. THIS WEEK: vs. Denver, vs. Denver
5. Cornell
6. Yale
7. St. Cloud State
8. Bemidji State
9. Michigan State
10. Minnesota Duluth
11. Colorado College
12. Ferris State
13. New Hampshire
14. Boston College
15. Union
16. UMass Lowell
17. St. Lawrence
18. Massachusetts
19. Maine
20. Vermont

Dropped out: Lake Superior State
Bubble-licious: Lake Superior State, Michigan

INCH Power Rankings

As always for a good laugh to start your Monday morning off the INCH power rankins. WCHA dominating the top twenty.

1. Denver
2. Miami
3. Wisconsin
4. Minnesota Duluth
5. Cornell
6. Yale
7. North Dakota
8. Michigan State
9. Boston College
10. Colorado College
11. Union 3
12. Ferris State
13. St. Cloud State
14. Bemidji State
15. New Hampshire
16. Massachusetts
17. Lake Superior State
18. UMass Lowell
19. Maine
20. Vermont

Dropped out: Quinnipiac, Alaska
Bubble-licious: Minnesota, Michigan, St. Lawrence

Check this out.

This is a good point from the boys at INCH. I have to ask the same question as well. On Friday and Saturday night I wanted to tape and watch the College Hockey Show Case games when I got home from the Sioux hockey games and there weren't a game to be had on Friday or Saturday on the Bing Ten Network and the Saturday games were not on Fox Sports Net either. To me this is a real head scratcher that they would put Northwestern basketball over college hockey, especially if they wanted more hockey programming from their Big Ten Hockey teams and their big discussion about wanting a Big Ten Hockey Conference this past summer. Yeah that's a real yawner. I wonder if the BTN could see the hypocrisy from a stands point of view. If they really were comitted to hockey they would have shown the College Hockey Show Case games this past weekend.

One reason the Big Ten wouldn’t mind adding hockey to the league’s stable of sports is to provide additional programming for the conference’s television outlet—especially on Friday nights, the dead zone of college athletics. But the Big Ten Network’s commitment to college pucks has to be called into question as based on its decision to forego televising any of last weekend’s College Hockey Showcase games, choosing to instead broadcast Northwestern men’s basketball on Friday and Saturday night.

In case you’re keeping track at home, four hockey programs—all of which have won national championships in the last 12 years—were bounced in favor of a hoops team that has never qualified for an NCAA tournament. That, Big Ten Net, is well below average [INCH]

I would say that it was an epic fail by the “Big Ten”. Maybe we should leave hockey to the people that are good at it, CCHA, WCHA > Big Ten.