Hockey Ranked 18th in Latest USCHO Poll
1/31/2012 12:00:00 AM | Hockey
Jan. 31, 2012
OXFORD, Ohio - Miami Hockey picked up another win over a ranked team last weekend, topping No. 19 Northern Michigan, 6-0, but the RedHawks still fell one spot to No. 18 in the USCHO.com Poll, which was released Monday. Miami has been ranked in the poll each of the last three weeks and eight times overall on the season.
The 'Hawks (15-11-2, 11-9-2-1 CCHA) earned 220 points, down from 242 a week ago, after splitting with the Wildcats, which gave Miami its ninth win over a ranked team this season. North Dakota moved in front of Miami to No. 17 with 227 points after sweeping Wisconsin while NMU stayed behind Miami at No. 19 with 11 points. Colgate, who the RedHawks split with earlier this season, rounds out the poll at No. 20.
For the eighth straight week, Minnesota-Duluth is the top-ranked team in the country but the Bulldogs are losing their grip on the top spot, totaling 959 points and earning 21 first-place votes after getting 45 last week. Minnesota jumped to No. 2 and earned 918 points and 21 first-place votes. Boston University dropped to third after being swept by Maine while Merrimack sits at No. 4 and Boston College rounds out the top five.
Four CCHA teams occupy the next five spots in the poll led by No. 6 Ferris State, who received one first-place vote after a win and a tie against then-No. 6 Ohio State. Michigan, who Miami faces this weekend, comes in at No. 7 after being idle while Notre Dame dropped four spots to eighth after splitting at Alaska. Massachusetts-Lowell is ranked ninth while the Buckeyes fell to No. 10.
Colorado College moved up a spot to No. 11 while Union College jumped three spots and is tied with the Tigers for 11th. Denver, who the RedHawks beat earlier this season, is No. 13 followed by Cornell at No. 14 and the Black Bears at No. 15 after their sweep of the Terriers. CCHA rival Western Michigan is ranked 16th.
A total of seven CCHA teams are ranked in the USCHO.com Poll, the most of any conference. Of the seven, Miami still plays three of them (Michigan, Notre Dame and Ohio State) to close out regular-season play. The complete USCHO Poll can be found here.
In the other polls, Miami is just outside the top 15 in the USA Today/USA Hockey Magazine Poll, receiving 34 points, which is second among "others receiving votes" and equates to a No. 17 ranking. In that poll, Minnesota is the new No. 1 team. The RedHawks are 16th in the latest Inside College Hockey (INCH) Power Rankings but are tied for 10th in the all-important PairWise Rankings, which help determine NCAA Tournament berths.
Miami is on the road this weekend, traveling to Ann Arbor, Mich. for a two-game series at No. 7/8 Michigan, who the 'Hawks defeated and tied earlier this season in Oxford.
--MURedHawks.com--
