Boston University completed its upward trajectory in the national rankings, supplanting Colorado College as the No. 1 team in Monday’s USCHO.com/CBS College Sports Division I men’s poll. The Terriers, who beat Massachusetts-Lowell Friday, secured 29 of 50 first-place votes to reach the apex of the poll this week.
Minnesota likewise moved upward, using a three-point weekend against New Hampshire to remain unbeaten. The Gophers climbed two spots to No. 2 and picked up 12 first-place votes in the process. Former No. 1 CC retained eight first-place votes but fell to third after a split with North Dakota gave the Tigers their first loss of the season.
Fellow WCHA squad Denver rose to No. 4 in this week’s rankings; the Pioneers swept Minnesota Duluth and earned the remaining first-place vote. Next up was Boston College, which lost to Notre Dame and Maine and fell from second to fifth.
New Hampshire slipped one place to No. 6 and Northeastern rose three spots to seventh after beating Bentley, giving Hockey East four of the top seven teams in this week’s rankings and the WCHA the other three.
The next three teams, to round out the top 10, were from the CCHA. Michigan edged down to No. 8 with a split against Alaska, followed by Notre Dame. The Irish’s wins over BC and Providence vaulted them up three spots to ninth, while Miami slipped two places to No. 10 after a tie (recorded as a shootout win for CCHA standings purposes) and a loss versus Ferris State.
Minnesota State rebounded to 11th by taking three points against Alaska-Anchorage, with Princeton dropping to No. 12 after losing to Cornell and beating Colgate. Idle and still-perfect Air Force nosed up to 13th this week.
Cornell used its win over Princeton and a tie with Quinnipiac to move up to No. 14, leapfrogging Vermont, which still rose one spot to 15th. The Catamounts tied Providence and beat Massachusetts-Lowell over the weekend.
Clarkson inched down to No. 16 with a win over Brown and a loss to Yale, while Michigan State suffered the week’s biggest drop — six places to No. 17 after being swept by Ohio State.
North Dakota rejoined the poll at No. 18, and St. Lawrence entered the rankings in 19th after beating Yale and tying Brown. Completing the poll was Massachusetts, which hung on at No. 20 after tying Merrimack.
Dropping out since last week were Harvard and Minnesota Duluth.
