SB Nation’s NCAA Poll: Fresh Faces

This week will see every team touch the ice in some fashion. The Ivies have exhibitions while everyone else is fully live. This past week saw us welcome a new team to our ranks as Stonehill played their first competitive games as a program. They had a tough outing in Storrs but in their home opener they battled back from down two goals to force OT against a Connecticut team that is still garnering votes, this earned them this week’s ‘Belles of the Ball’ honors.

1. Ohio State (2-0-0), 104 (8) — Last poll: 1

• Last week: W 2-1 v Minnesota State (9/30), W 5-4 v Minnesota State (10/1)
• Coming Week: v St. Cloud State (10/7, 10/8)/

The weekend did not go as planned for the Buckeyes. They got the two wins but earned no style points, thankfully the PWR has no style criteria and they lost nothing. This week brings another of the weaker WCHA teams to Columbus which should be another sweep.

2. Minnesota (0-0-0), 99 (3) — Last poll: 2

• Last week: No Games
• Coming Week: v Bemidji State (10/7, 10/8)/

The Gophers will host a Beavers team that gave Clarkson fits to open their season.

3. Northeastern (2-0-0), 75 — Last poll: 4

• Last week: W 3-1 v LIU (9/30, W 10-1 v LIU (10/1)
• Coming Week: v Connecticut (10/7), @ Connecticut (10/8)/

The Huskies got stymied by a very good goalie for a portion of their opener but then the floodgates came open. Lots of offense from lots of different sources bodes well for them. This weekend brings up a Connecticut team that had a rough road trip to East Bridgewater last Saturday and as such will be hungry to prove themselves.

4. Wisconsin (3-1-0), 73 — Last poll: 3

• Last week: W 6-0 v Lindenwood (9/29), W 10-0 v Lindenwood (9/30)
• Coming Week: v St. Thomas (10/7, 10/8)/

The Badgers completely outclassed a Lindenwood team that we all expected to not be able to match up with them. This weekend should be more of the same as the sophomore program St. Thomas comes to town.

5. Quinnipiac (4-0-0), 60 — Last poll: 7

• Last week: W 5-0 v Boston College (9/30), W 2-0 v New Hampshire (10/1)
• Coming Week: @ St. Anselm (10/7), v St. Anselm (10/8)/

Quinnipiac was expected to be good but they are still impressing our voters with how badly they mauled a Boston College team that was on the cusp of being ranked last week.  This week they will have a home-and-home against a NEWHA opponent.

6. Colgate (3-0-0), 57 — Last poll: 6

• Last week: W 5-0 @ Mercyhurst (9/30), W 2-0 @ Mercyhurst (10/1)
• Coming Week: @ Penn State (10/7, 10/8)/

It was a solid pair of outings for the Raiders when they traveled to Erie. This weekend will bring another trip to a recent Frozen Four site as they head to State College for a pair of high-profile games.

7. Minnesota-Duluth (4-0-0), 51 — Last poll: 5

• Last week: W 3-2 OT @ St. Lawrence (9/29), W 4-0 v Penn State (9/30)
• Coming Week: v Minnesota State (10/7, 10/8)/

After a close call on the road, the Bulldogs were able to handle the Nittany Lions on neutral ice. They will now host Mankato in a pair of WCHA contests.

8. Princeton (0-0-0), 124 — Last poll: 8

• Last week: No Games
• Coming Week: v Montreal (Exh) (10/9)/

The Ivies will get going with exhibitions this weekend and Princeton will host Montreal.

9. Yale (0-0-0), 15 — Last poll: 10

• Last week: No Games
• Coming Week: v McGill (Exh) (10/8)/

Yale gets going with a visit from McGill.

10. Penn State (2-2-0), 14 — Last poll: 9

• Last week: L 0-4 v Minnesota-Duluth (9/30), W 4-2 @ St. Lawrence (10/1)
• Coming Week: v Colgate (10/7, 10/8)/

After an unfortunate game against Duluth the Nittany Lions were able to rebound against the Saints. This weekend will bring a very telling early season meeting with Colgate.

Also Receiving Votes: Clarkson 12, Vermont 10, Cornell 8, Connecticut 2, Minnesota State 1