North Dakota remains on top of national hockey polls

GRAND FORKS, N.D. – The University of North Dakota will enter its final series before the Christmas break as the No. 1 team in NCAA Division I men’s hockey, according to both national polls released on Monday.

UND claimed the top spot in both the USCHO and USA Today/USA Hockey Magazine polls for the second straight week following a non-conference sweep of Lake Superior State. UND received 38 of 50 first-place votes in the USCHO poll and 29 of 34 first-place nods in the USA Today rankings.

UND’s next opponent, Denver, was ranked No. 11 in both polls. The Pioneers will host UND on Friday and Saturday in UND’s final action prior to the Christmas break.

Boston University, Minnesota, State, Michigan Tech and Harvard rounded out the top five in both polls.

USCHO.com Division I Men’s Poll

Rk.      School (First place votes)       Record           Pts.         PR

1.         North Dakota (38)                     12-3-2           983            1

2.         Boston University (1)                     10-3-2            900            3

3.         Minnesota State (1)                        12-4-0            818            2

4.         Michigan Tech (1)                            12-2-0            784            5

5.         Harvard (6)                                        9-1-2            752            9

6.         Miami                                               11-5-0            752            9

7.         Minnesota                                          9-4-1            715            6

8.         Massachusetts-Lowell                    10-3-3            707            7

9.         Minnesota Duluth (3)                      11-5-0            677            8

10.       Vermont                                           11-3-1            548          11

11.       Denver                                               9-4-0            478          10

12.       Omaha                                                8-4-2            435          12

13.       Bowling Green                                 11-3-2            419          14

14.       Colgate                                              9-5-1            377          13

15.       Quinnipiac                                        10-5-1            256          15

16.       Boston College                                 8-7-1            177          17

17.       Robert Morris                                  10-1-3            170          20

18.       Providence                                         8-6-1            161          16

19.       Merrimack                                        10-5-2            138          18

20.       Union                                                 9-6-1              66         NR

Others receiving votes: Penn State 56, Northern Michigan 51, Yale 29, St. Cloud State 28, Michigan 18, St. Lawrence 7, Ferris State 3, Dartmouth 2, Holy Cross 1, Mercyhurst 1.

USA Today/USA Hockey Magazine Poll

Rk.      School (1^st place)                      Record           Pts.         PR

1.         North Dakota (29)                     12-3-2           502            1

2.         Boston University (1)                     10-3-1            449            2

3.         Minnesota State                              12-4-0            379            4

4.         Michigan Tech                                  12-2-0            375            6

5.         Harvard (4)                                        9-1-2            360            8

6.         Minnesota                                          9-4-1            336            3

7.         Miami                                               11-5-0            330            5

8.         Massachusetts-Lowell                    10-3-3            296            7

9.         Minnesota Duluth                            11-5-0            255            9

10.       Vermont                                           11-3-1            207          10

11.       Denver                                               9-4-0            152          11

12.       Omaha                                                8-4-2            135          13

13.       Colgate                                              9-5-1            119          12

14.       Bowling Green                                 11-3-2              93          14

15.       Quinnipiac                                        10-5-1              29          15

Others receiving votes: Merrimack 18, Robert Morris 11, Providence 9, Michigan 7, Boston College 6, Yale 3, St. Cloud State 2.