The world of men’s college hockey has managed to squeeze in a little more craziness ahead of the fast-approaching holiday break, with last week’s top two spots falling in the rankings and Beantown proving that college hockey runs right across the Charles River.
So here’s a look at NCAA Digital’s Jordan Minard Final Power Five of 2023, which recaps all of the top performers through Week 10 of men’s college hockey.
No. 1 – Boston College (previous: 4)
After waiting weeks to climb the Menard rankings, Boston University appeared to squander a long-awaited opportunity after North Dakota and Denver suffered notable losses over the weekend. Hosting Providence in an independent game on Saturday, the Eagles allowed PC to score three straight goals and trailed 3-2 with just 12 minutes left. However, the beneficiary of Drew Fortescue’s impressive layoff, BC’s Cutter Gauthier continued his tremendous sophomore campaign with a thunderous strike into the bottom right corner, leveling the game just moments later.
Oscar Gilvitch restored BC’s lead with two goals 68 seconds apart late in the third period, and the Eagles ultimately held on for a 5-4 win. Boston College returns from winter break on January 6 for an exhibition game against Simon Fraser and resumes ECAC play the following weekend against Providence in a home series.
No. 2 – Boston (previous: 3)
Heading to downtown Boston, the Terriers are also moving up despite being idle in Week 10 thanks to setbacks by North Dakota and Denver. Boston’s poor start to the season has long since faded after dropping a 2-1 decision to Cornell at Madison Square Garden in its last eight games and improving to 7-1-1 in Hockey East play.
BU returns to action on December 29 against Yale before playing Simon Fraser in an exhibition the following weekend.
No. 3 – Wisconsin (previous: 4)
A three-game slump has proven to be just that for Wisconsin, now that they have rediscovered the form that had them topping the USCHA polls early in the season. The Badgers took revenge on Alaska-Anchorage 5-0, completed a 9-1 weekend sweep of Ohio State, and most recently dominated No. 17 Penn State from the Kohl Center over the weekend. Carson Buntle scored a hat-trick on Friday as the Badgers cruised to a 6-3 win before overcoming an early 4-1 deficit on Saturday.
Wisconsin should enjoy a partisan crowd at the Kwik Trip Holiday Face-Off next in Milwaukee on Dec. 28, and return to Big Ten play on Jan. 26 after weekend series with Notre Dame and Lindenwold.
No. 4 – North Dakota (previous: 1)
Unranked and winless for nearly a month, Colorado College stormed into Grand Forks last weekend and produced the most shocking result of the season in college hockey, besting No. 1 North Dakota in overtime on consecutive nights. Both closely contested matchups ended regulation deadlocked at two, and overtime winners from Noah Laba and Gleb Veremeyev inspired the Tigers to their first sweep of North Dakota in 30 years.
Despite the stunning setback over the weekend, North Dakota maintains its spot in the Menard standings thanks to a strong resume including five top-20 wins, all but one of which came on the road. The Fighting Hawks will face the USA U18 National Team in an exhibition on Dec. 30 before hosting Alaska the following weekend.
No. 5 – Michigan State (former: NR)
The only newcomer in the Menard Power 5, Michigan State, has lost just once since Nov. 1, a 6-5 thriller against Minnesota in the Twin Cities, and now sits in first place in the Big Ten after sweeping Notre Dame over the weekend. Mrs. Michigan State blew a hotly contested affair in the third period on Friday night, as Isaac Howard and Daniel Russell each had a goal and an assist as the Spartans scored three goals to take a 5-2 lead. A more defensive affair ensued Saturday against another sold-out Moon Center as goaltender Trey Augustine made 31 saves, tragically missing his shot in the final 20 seconds but leading MSU to a 2-1 win.
The Spartans will head north to Grand Rapids for the Great Lakes Invitational on Dec. 28 and return home to take on the U.S. National Development Team in an exhibition the following weekend.
The latest Power 5 men’s hockey rankings have brought great news for both Boston College and Boston University, as they have emerged as the top teams in the standings. With their impressive performances on the ice, both teams have solidified their positions as formidable contenders in the world of college hockey. Their consistent success on the rink has not only garnered them much-deserved recognition, but also heightened the anticipation for their upcoming matches. As they continue to showcase their strength and skill, it is clear that Boston College and Boston University are truly forces to be reckoned with in the collegiate hockey scene.