UND 4 UMD 2

I didn't see the game last night because I was in Bemidji MN watching the BSU Beavers run over the Niagara University Purple Eagles. [Box Score]. During the Beaver game I was getting updates via text message. Thank You LGM. When I found out that Zajac had scored I knew UND was on it's way to victory, just a hunch. If I recall correctly UND has only lost one game when Darcy Zajac has scored a goal.

I think the most impressive point to come out of this game is that the Fighting Sioux defense was able to keep the Danberg, Mike Connolly and Jack Connolly line off of the score board. This has been one of the most prolific lines in college hockey this season so far.

[Box Score]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1st Period (20:00)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

MND-1 Brady Lamb (2-Interference) NDK 0x1 1:04
NDK-1 Brad Malone (2-Interference) MND 0x1 2:03
NDK-2 Brad Malone (10-Misconduct) 4:15
MND 1 - 0 6x6 Drew Akins (3) (Mike Seidel, Jordan Fulton) 8:32
MND (+): 7,17,23,26,6,G35 NDK (-): 18,2,27,19,24,G31
MND-2 Mike Seidel (2-Hooking) NDK 0x2 8:48
NDK-3 Brett Hextall (2-Interference) MND 0x2 16:08

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2nd Period (20:00)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

MND-3 Jordan Fulton (2-Holding the Stick) NDK 0x3 2:27
NDK 1 - 1 6x6 Darcy Zajac (4) (unassisted) 4:44
NDK (+): 11,20,9,17,3,G31 MND (-): 37,8,19,2,21,G35
MND-4 Keegan Flaherty (2-Holding) NDK 0x4 7:19
NDK 2 - 1 6x6 LL Ben Blood (2) (unassisted) 13:33
NDK (+): 24,2,13,27,10,G31 MND (-): 7,6,23,37,4,G35
MND-5 Mike Connolly (2-CONTACT TO THE HEAD) NDK 1x5 18:11
NDK 3 - 1 6x5 PP GW Jason Gregoire (7) (Chris VandeVelde, Brett Hextall) 18:56
NDK: 17,29,26,7,25,G31 MND: 2,8,14,11,G35

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3rd Period (20:00)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

NDK-4 Evan Trupp (2-Tripping) MND 0x3 1:37
MND 2 - 3 6x6 Kyle Schmidt (5) (Mike Seidel, Drew Akins) 3:53
MND (+): 11,17,7,24,4,G35 NDK (-): 22,19,26,24,3,G31
MND-6 Dylan Olsen (2-Cross-Checking) NDK 1x6 11:04
NDK-5 Joe Gleason (2-Slashing) MND 0x4 15:22
NDK 4 - 2 6x6 EN Jason Gregoire (8) (unassisted) 19:07
NDK (+): 17,24,26,2,22,G31

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
End of Game

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Tonight's Sioux and Bulldog game on Midco

I almost chocked on my scrambled eggs this morning when I read this in the Grand Forks Herald. Midco will be carrying tonight's game between UND and UMD from the DECC in Grand Forks, ND. There is no reason both games shouldn’t have been picked up for this weekend’s series.

Tonight’s game will be televised on Midcontinent Channel 23 in most of North Dakota. [Grand Forks Herald]

Toews goal against Preds.

Check out this goal by former Fighting Sioux forward Jonathan Toews, it is a thing of beauty. Unforunately for the Blackhawks it was the only goal they got as they lost 4-1 to Nashville.

Jason Blakes pretty goal.

Last night in Columbus it was the Jason Blake and Phil Kessel show. Check out this pretty goal by former Fighting Sioux forward Jason Blake. This was the second win in a row for the Toronto Maple Leafs that have a 5-1-2 record in their last 8 games.

Report not true. Genoway still out.

Contrary to reports that have surfaced tonight; Fighting Sioux defenseman Genoway didn't travel to Duluth for this weekend's series and Chay is still out indefinitely. I am not sure how this rumor got out and it’s kind of messed up because if it didn’t come from UND and the Grand Forks Herald I wouldn’t believe it. According to Brad Elliot Schlossman the beat writer for the Fighting Sioux Genoway wasn't even on the bus for Duluth. Sounds like irresponsible journalism by Fox 21.

UMD's riding a three-game winning streak, and sits near the top of the WCHA standings, but as i told you last night, faces a tough test this weekend. That test just got tougher with the news North Dakota will have their top defenseman back on Friday.

Chay Genoway's been out since mid November, after an Aaron Marvin check left him injured. But good news for North Dakota, Chay returns to the ice tomorrow night, which isn't such good news for the Bulldogs.

"They're gonna get genoway back who's probably one of the best defensemen in the country. I think he'll be back which I think is gonna add a lot to their lineup, I think they're 1–2–1 without him, but he's a great hockey player and certainly gonna bring a lot to their team. So we know we've gotta be at our best," said head coach Scott Sandlein.

"Yeah, I mean he's a great player, one of the best D in our league for sure no doubt about it, but he's coming off an injury where you never know, he might be a little scared to be in the corner. So I think we just keep coming and laying the pressure as hard as we can. So I think we're just gonna put pressure on their d all uh, all night," added Justin Fontaine.

The Bulldogs host the Fighting Sioux Friday and Saturday night at 7:07pm.
[Fox 21]

Weekend Match-Ups (by Sioux 7)

There are now 6 WCHA teams ranked in the to 20 this week (8 if you want to count Bemidji St. and Nebraska-Omaha already.)

This weekend is another weekend in which all the teams are in conference play. After this weekend 2 teams will reach the half-way mark in regular season league games, MSU-M and UAA.

CURRENT WCHA STANDINGS

#...TEAM...............GP....W-L-T...PTS
1 Colorado College.....10....7-2-1...15
1 Denver................10....7-2-1...15
3 Minnesota-Duluth....10....6-3-1...13
4 North Dakota.........10....5-4-1...11
4 St. Cloud State......10....5-4-1...11
4 Wisconsin............10....5-4-1...11
7 Minnesota State.....12....4-7-1....9
8 Alaska-Anchorage....12....4-8-0....8
9 Minnesota............10....3-6-1....7
10 Michigan Tech......10....2-8-0....4


#3 North Dakota at #12 Minnesota-Duluth
Last weekend the Sioux beat Ohio St. and tied Miami(OH) and the Bulldogs had Thanksgiving weekend off.

I'm thinking we could call this the a U.S. Highway 2 rivalry. Last year the Bulldogs won and tied UND in Duluth and then beat the Sioux in the Final 5 semi-final game (they didn't play in Grand Forks last season). If I recall correctly the Sioux are something like 18-9-1 in their last 28-games versus UMD. The Sioux are 125-69-8 all-time against UMD, and are 52-37-5 in Duluth. The Bulldogs are tied for the most goals scored in the WCHA with 36 in ten games while surrendering 29. The Sioux have allowed the fewest goals, 17, in the WCHA while lighting the lamp 29 times in 10 games. This looks like UND's d-men will have to continue their solid play and Eidsness too, if the Sioux are to earn some points this weekend. The Bulldogs will need to play better in their own end if they want to win, true they score but they give 'em up too. SIOUX SWEEP.


#2 Denver versus #6 Colorado College
The Pioneers split with the SCSU Huskies in Denver and the Tigers split with the Seawolves at World Arena in Colorado Springs.

I'm thinking we could call this series either the I-25 rivalry or Rumble in the Rockies, I like the latter. This is also a battle for first place in the WCHA standing at the moment. Like I've said before I don't think CC is as good as their ranking and this weekend I'll find out for sure. The teams CC has faced this year have a combined record of 40-50-5 and for DU their opponents this year are a combined 43-49-8, hmm, maybe I'm wrong about CC, who knows? Last year these teams tied 3 times and CC one the other meeting 3-2. With rivalries you can usually throw the records out the window. I'm taking the safe bet, SPLIT.


Minnesota State versus Minnesota
The Mavericks got a home sweep over visiting MTU and the Gophers lost at Michigan and won at Michigan St. in the College Hockey Showcase.

The Gophers trail the Mavericks by 2 points in the standings, but the Gophers have 2 games in hand on them. These are must have points for both teams this week, for MSUM to keep them firmly in the middle of the league. The Gophers need points if they want to have a chance at stay in contention for a home playoff spot. Last season the Mavericks won the series 2-1-1, sweeping at home and losing and tying on the road. Since this is a a home-and-home series, I'm going with the home teams to win, SPLIT.


Michigan Tech at #16 Wisconsin
The MTU Huskies were swept at Mankato by the Mavericks and the Badgers won at Michigan St. and then lost at Michigan in the College Hockey Showcase.

The Huskies are giving up twice as many goals as they are scoring in the league (21gf, 42ga). The Badgers are scoring an average of 3.3/game and letting in 2.2/game (33gf, 22ga) in the WCHA. On paper this should be a no brainer, but this is the WCHA. The only realy blip on UW's radar this year was a home loss to the Gophers, and I don't see any blips on their radar for this weekend. BADGERS SWEEP.


#20 St. Cloud State at Alaska-Anchorage
The SCSU Huskies split on the road with the Denver Pioneers and the UAA Seawolves split on the road with the CC Tigers.

(This ones for the Goon) The small, fast, fleet-footed Huskies will invade the Sully this weekend to take on the big, slow, lumbering Seawolves for pair of WCHA tilts. Okay, SCSU has 6 loses this season, 2 to Miami(OH), 1 UND, 1 DU, so they have held their own against the countries best teams so far this year. Seawolves on the other hand have beat UND and DU at home (SCSU beat UND and DU on the road). UAA is a long trip and the Seawolves play better at home then the road. This is yet another tought series to predict... SCSU 3pts.

Link to the broadcast for the UND and UMD series.

These weekends games will not be on in the Midco.Net area this weekend, the games are being picked up by Charter in Minnesota. For the lucky folks that live in North Dakota you can pick up the games using this link [B2 Broadband Sports and Entertainment Network]. I have used B2 before when the Sioux played in Mankato so I didn't have any problems using B2.

Minnesota-Duluth vs. North Dakota
12/4/2009 7:07:00 PM CST
Minnesota-Duluth vs. North Dakota
12/5/2009 7:07:00 PM CST
Tomorrow night I have applied and recieved a press pass so I am off to Bemidji State to see the Beavers play Niagara Purple Eagles. In John S. Glas Fieldhouse. In the last 15 games against the Purple Eagles the Beavers have a 6-5-4 record.

Wednesday press conference.

It's always fun to listen to Ben Blood talk. Blood said that he likes playing with MacWilliam. When asked What the Miami players were saying to you on the ice Blood said he couldn't really say other than they were trying to get into his head. On UMD, they were one of my least favorite teams to play against they play hard. Blood is also growing his hair out.

How the mighty have fallen.

Check out this blog post from Goal Gophers. My how the once mighty Gophers have fallen!!! This kind of mentality can’t be sitting well with Gopher fans. It almost looks like Don Lucia is spinning a horrible start to the season as a moral victory. The spin that it's really not as bad as it looks, it could be worse. Personally, as a Sioux fan I think that Lucia is doing a great job in Minnesota but this is almost out of character. This is really the third season of mediocrity. Over on gpl.com the Gopher faithfull are ready to throw their head coach Don Lucia a former Spencer Penrose award winner under the bus.

* Home record: "We have to play better at home, that's the big thing. You look at on the road, we have played North Dakota, at Wisconsin, Michigan and Michigan State and we are 2-3-1 which is pretty darn good in those games. And we are 3-5 at home that's what has let us down more than anything else. If you even split the Denver and split the UMD series, then all of a sudden you are sitting in decent shape considering with the inuries and some of the things we have had to go through this season."
[Goal Gophers]

Toews deal to be announced tomorrow.

Looks like former Fighting Sioux star Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane have or are about to sign some nice fat contract extensions tomorrow.

The Chicago Blackhawks have called a press conference on Thursday where it is expected the team will announce the signings of Patrick Kane, Jonathan Toews and Duncan Keith to multi-year contract extensions.

Sources tell TSN that Toews and Kane will sign identical five-year contract extensions worth about $6.3 million per season. Meanwhile Keith's deal is worth $72 million spread over a whopping 13 years at an annual average of $5.5 million.
[TSN]

Team Canada roster.

Team Canada has released its preliminary roster and they will have their try out from 12-16 December. There are three NCAA Division 1 hockey players on it's roster, they are Louis Leblanc; Harvard, Dylan Olsen; UMD and Patrick Wiercioch Denver U.

Goalies

Jake Allen, Fredricton, N.B./N.-B. Montreal (QMJHL) STL '08
Matt Hackett, London, Ont. Plymouth (OHL) MIN '09
Martin Jones, North Vancouver, B.C./C.-B. Calgary (WHL) LA '08
Olivier Roy, Causapscal, Que./QC Cape Breton (QMJHL) EDM '09

Defense

Jared Cowen, Sask Spokane (WHL) OTT '09
Calvin de Haan, Ont. Oshawa (OHL) NYI '09
Nicholas Deslauriers, St-Anicet, Que./QC Rouyn-Noranda QMJHL) LA '09
Ryan Ellis, Ont. Windsor (OHL) NSH '09
Brandon Gormley, Murray River, P.E.I./I.-P.-E. Moncton (QMJHL)
Travis Hamonic, St. Malo, Man. Moose Jaw (WHL) NYI '08
Shawn Lalonde, Orleans, Ont. Belleville (OHL) CHI '08
Dylan Olsen, Calgary, Alta./Alb. UMD WCHA CHI '09
Alex Pietrangelo, King City, Ont. Niagara (OHL) STL '08
Marco Scandella,Montreal, Que./QC Val d'Or (QMJHL) MIN '08
Colten Teubert, White Rock, B.C./C.-B. Regina (WHL) LA '08
Patrick Wiercioch, Maple Ridge, B.C./C.-B. Denver (WCHA) OTT '08

Forwards

Luke Adam, St. John's, N.L./T.-N.-L. Cape Breton (QMJHL) BUF '08
Gabriel Bourque, Baie-Comeau, Que./QC Baie-Comeau (QMJHL) NSH '09
Jordan Caron, Sayabec, Que./QC Rimouski (QMJHL) BOS '09
Patrice Cormier, Cap-Pelé, N.B./N.-B. Rimouski (QMJHL) NJ '08
Philippe Cornet, Val Senneville, Que./QC Rouyn-Noranda (QMJHL) EDM '08 * Stefan Della Rovere, Maple, Ont. Barrie (OHL) WAS '08
Cody Eakin, Winnipeg, Man. Swift Current (WHL) WAS '09
Jordan Eberle, Regina, Sask. Regina (WHL) EDM '08
Scott Glennie, Winnipeg, Man. Brandon (WHL) DAL '09
Taylor Hall, Kingston, Ont. Windsor (OHL) 2010
Adam Henrique, Burford, Ont. Windsor (OHL) NJ '08
Cody Hodgson, Markham, Ont. Brampton (OHL) VAN '08
Nazem Kadri, London, Ont. London (OHL) TOR '09
Brandon Kozun, Calgary, Alta./Alb. Calgary (WHL) LA '09
Louis Leblanc, Kirkland, Que./QC Harvard (ECAC) MTL '09
John McFarland, Richmond Hill, Ont. Sudbuary (OHL) 2010
Brandon McMillan, Delta, B.C./C.-B. Kelowna (WHL) ANA '08
Greg Nemisz,Courtice, Ont. Windsor (OHL) CGY '08
Brayden Schenn,Saskatoon, Sask. Brandon (WHL) LA '09
Tyler Seguin, Brampton, Ont. Plymouth (OHL) 2010
[click to link to Team Canada]

Team USA Preliminary Roster announced.

Fighting Sioux forward Danny Kristo has made the Preliminary Team USA WJC roster. Team USA will have their U.S. World Junior evaluation camp in Grand Forks, ND December 17- 19. The Fighting Sioux will play team USA on December 19th at REA at 7:07 pm.

GOALTENDERS (2)
Jack Campbell, Port Huron, Mich. U.S. National Under-18 Team
Mike Lee Roseau, Minn. St. Cloud State University (WCHA)

DEFENSEMEN (11)
John Carlson, Colonia, N.J. Hershey Bears (AHL)
Matt Donovan, Edmond, Okla. University of Denver (WCHA)
Justin Faulk, South St. Paul, Minn. U.S. National Under-18 Team
Cam Fowler, Farmington Hills, Mich. Windsor Spitfires (OHL)
Jake Gardiner, Minnetonka, Minn. Univ of Wisconsin (WCHA)
Brian Lashoff, Albany, N.Y. Kingston Frontenacs (OHL)
Jon Merrill, Brighton, Mich. U.S. National Under-18 Team
John Moore, Winnetka, Ill. Kitchener Rangers (OHL)
Max Nicastro, Thousand Oaks, Calif. Boston University (HEA)
John Ramage, St. Louis, Mo. University of Wisconsin (WCHA)
David Warsofsky, Marshfield, Mass. Boston University (HEA)

FORWARDS (16)
Ryan Bourque Boxford, Mass. Quebec Remparts (QMJHL)
Chris Brown, Houston, Texas University of Michigan (CCHA)
Jerry D’Amigo, Binghamton, N.Y. RPI ECACH)
A.J. Jenks, Wolverine Lake, Mich. Plymouth Whalers (OHL)
Tyler Johnson, Spokane, Wash. Spokane Chiefs (WHL)
Chris Kreider, BoxfordMass. Boston College (HEA)
Danny Kristo, Eden Prairie, Minn. UND (WCHA)
Philip McRae, Chesterfield, Mo. London Knights (OHL)
Jeremy Morin, Auburn, N.Y. Kitchener Rangers (OHL)
Kyle Palmieri, Montvale, N.J. University of Notre Dame (CCHA)
Vinny Saponari, Powder Springs, Ga. Boston University (HEA)
Jordan Schroeder, Prior Lake, Minn. Univer of Minnesota (WCHA)
Derek Stepan, Hastings, Minn. University of Wisconsin (WCHA)
Luke Walker, Portland, Ore. Portland Winterhawks (WHL)
David Wohlberg, South Lyon, Mich. University of Michigan (CCHA)
Jason Zucker, Las Vegas, Nev. U.S. National Under-18 Team (USNTDP)
[link to USA Roster]

Ovechkin suspended for two games.

I have to admit that I am actually shocked and relieved that the league FINALLY stepped in and suspended Alex Ovechkin for kneeing Tim Gleason. In the past Ovechkin has escaped punishment when it was warranted. Unforunately it would have been better if the suspension had come with Alex being healthy.

You have to wonder if the suspensions actually hurt in the wallet that much? 98,000.00 is the drop in the barrel to a player like Alex Ovechkin.

ARLINGTON, Va. - Alex Ovechkin's latest on-ice indiscretion netted him a two-game suspension, a sore right knee and a new level of concern from his coach about his "pretty reckless" ways.

The league's reigning two-time MVP was suspended for two games without pay by the NHL on Tuesday for a knee-to-knee hit on defenseman Tim Gleason in Monday night's 3-2 win over the Carolina Hurricanes.

Ovechkin's first NHL suspension will cost him $98,844.16 in salary. He'll sit out Thursday against Florida and Saturday at Philadelphia, although his sore knee might have kept him out of one of the games anyway.

"I regret that this has happened," Ovechkin said in a statement released by the team. "I'm glad that Tim wasn't injured because I never ever want to see anyone get [Star Tribune]

Bruins resign Marc Savard.

Good news for the Boston Bruins as they have resigned their top center for another 7 years. Savard will average 4.2 million per season for seven years. I think it's ironic that Savard signed for less than Phil Kessel asked for during the off-season.

The Bruins officially announced that center Marc Savard has signed a seven-year contract extension that runs through the 2016-17 season.

Savard, 32, signed with the Bruins as a free agent in 2006 and has led the team in scoring each of the last three seasons. He was also the top scorer in the postseason each of the last two seasons. Savard has twice finished in the league’s top ten in scoring with 95+ points and has played in two consecutive NHL All-Star Games.

According to TSN.ca, the deal is worth an average of $4.2 million per year.

The 5-10, 191-pound center appeared in every game for the Bruins last year and had 25 goals and 63 assists in 82 regular season games. He also had six goals and seven assists in 11 postseason games.

Savard was originally drafted by the New York Rangers in the fourth round of the 1995 NHL Draft.

Savard missed several weeks this season with a broken bone in his foot. In 11 games this year, he has four goals and six assists.

In 752 career NHL games, Savard has 199 goals and 474 assists for 673 points. [Boston Globe]

Kristo Red Baron® WCHA Rookie of the Week

UND Fighting Sioux freshman Danny Kristo has been awarded the Red Baron WCHA Rookie of the week for his play last weekend in the Subway Holiday Classic.

Danny Kristo, Fr., F, North Dakota

Danny Kristo, a first-year right winger at the University of North Dakota, is the Red Baron® WCHA Rookie of the Week for Dec. 1, 2009 as a result of his outstanding performance in the Subway Holiday Classic tournament held in Grand Forks over the Thanksgiving weekend.

A 5-11, 180-pound freshman from Eden Prairie, Minn., and a draftee of the NHL’s Montreal Canadiens, Kristo earned most valuable player honors at UND’s Subway Holiday Classic, lifting the Sioux to a 4-1 win over Ohio State on Nov. 27 and a 5-5 overtime tie with top-ranked Miami on Nov. 28.

Kristo, who was also named to the all-tournament team, racked up four points on the weekend, including a two-goal, one-assist performance against No. 1 Miami. He also scored a key third period goal against Ohio State to put the Sioux up 3-1.

Against Miami, Kristo assisted on UND’s first goal to tie the game 1-1, scored its second goal to make it 2-2, then scored again in the third period to give the Sioux a 5-3 lead. Kristo’s four-point weekend enabled him to move into the team scoring lead with 13 points (5g, 8a) and into a tie for the WCHA rookie scoring lead.

Also nominated this week were: William Rapuzzi, F, CC; Chris Knowlton, F, DU; Austin Lee, G, MSU; and David Eddy, F, SCSU. [WCHA.COM]

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.

Ovechkin knees Tim Gleason

There is an old saying, "live by the sword die by the sword." This is the second time in one week that Ovechkin was given a 5 minute major and a game misconduct for a questionable hit. Ovechkin also boarded Paterick Katela and recieved a 5 minute major and a game misconduct on November 25th.

Video from the MTU goal that wasn't

Chris from Western College Hockey [posted the video] from this past weekend where MTU looked like they had an apparent goals scored only to wave it off. If I was coach Russel I would have been upset, there is no reason this goal should have counted. Another another bad call by the officials. The WCHA has egg on their face again. The hits just keep coming.

Poll Monday Sioux (Sioux 3rd)

USCHO.com Division I Men's Poll
[November 30, 2009]
Team (First Place Votes) Record Points Last Poll
1 Miami (20) 9-2-5 934 1
2 Denver (14) 9-4-1 923 2
3 North Dakota ( 7) 8-4-2 900 4
4 Quinnipiac ( 7) 12-1-0 799 9
5 Bemidji State ( 2) 11-2-1 784 6
6 Colorado College 10-3-1 766 5
7 Cornell 6-2-1 708 7
8 Mass.-Lowell 8-4-1 647 3
9 Massachusetts 9-3-0 573 10
10 Yale 5-2-2 497 11
11 Michigan State 9-5-2 441 8
12 Alaska 8-3-3 426 12
12 Minnesota-Duluth 9-4-1 426 14
14 Notre Dame 7-5-4 323 13
15 Boston College 6-3-2 321 16
16 Wisconsin 8-5-1 308 15
17 Ferris State 9-3-2 265 17
18 Nebraska-Omaha 7-4-3 146 19
19 Vermont 5-5-1 83 18
20 St. Cloud State 6-6-2 80 NR
Others Receiving Votes: Michigan 66, RIT 21, Colgate 20, Union 19, New Hampshire 9, Northern Michigan 7, Rensselaer 3, Providence 2, Boston University 1, Minnesota 1, Princeton 1
-----------------------------------------
USA TODAY/USA Hockey men's poll
[Nov. 30, 2009]

Rank School (first-place votes) Record Points Last week's rank

1 Miami University (Ohio) (18) 9-2-5 483 1
2 Denver (10) 9-4-1 470 2
3 North Dakota (3) 8-4-2 448 4
4 Bemidji State (1) 11-2-1 373 6
5 Colorado College (1) 10-3-1 366 5
6 Quinnipiac (1) 12-1-0 353 10
7 Cornell 6-2-1 316 8
8 Massachusetts Lowell 8-4-1 244 3
9 Massachusetts 9-3-0 237 9
10 Yale 5-2-2 198 11
11 Michigan State 9-5-2 129 7
12 Minnesota Duluth 9-4-1 128 13
13 University of Alaska (Fairbanks) 8-3-3 114 12
14 Boston College 6-3-2 57 15
15 Notre Dame 7-5-4 49 14
Others receiving votes: Ferris State University, 45; University of Wisconsin, 44; University of Nebraska Omaha, 11; University of Vermont, 9; University of Michigan, 2; Rochester Institute of Technology, 2; Boston University, 1; Colgate University, 1.

INCH Power Rankings

As always I include the INCH Power Rankings for those looking for a good laugh on Monday Morning.

1. Denver
2. North Dakota 2 The Fighting Sioux have scored a total of 41 goals in their eight wins and two ties—including nine against Ohio State and Miami last weekend—but have just five goals in their four losses.
8-4-2 (5-4-1 WCHA) LAST WEEK: W vs. Ohio State, 4-1; T vs. Miami, 5-5- ot. THIS WEEK: at Minnesota Duluth, at Minnesota Duluth
3. Miami
4. Quinnipiac
5. Cornell
6. Bemidji State
7. Colorado College
8. UMass Lowell
9. Massachusetts
10. Yale
11. Michigan State
12. Alaska
13. Minnesota Duluth
14. Boston College
15. Wisconsin
16. Notre Dame
17. Vermont
18. Ferris State
19. Nebraska-Omaha
20. St. Cloud State

Dropped out: Colgate

Bubble-licious: Colgate, RIT, Union