SB Nation’s Women’s College Hockey Division 1 Poll: Holiday hangover

It would appear that no one got the memo hockey is back; not even the facilities. Almost every team in this poll that played a game had a result that was less then desired.

This just goes to show that the second half of the season is likely to continue on the same windy path of unpredictability as the first half.

1. Wisconsin (18-2-1), (16) 160 — Last Week: 1

• Last Week: W 5-1 @ Lindenwood (1/6), CANCELLED @ Lindenwood (1/7)

• Coming Week: v St. Cloud State (1/13, 1/14)

The Badgers got coal for Christmas. In a pair of not-so-friendlies between the USA and Canada, their Patty Kazmaier candidate and starting goalie, Anne-Renée Desbiens, got hurt, with a long recovery expected. This will most likely hurt her chances to grab the award and also will be a serious blow to the Badgers’ efforts to retain the top spot in this poll and the PWR rankings. They had a trip to Missouri that was cut short due to carbon monoxide leaks in the arena that sent 19 players to the hospital.

2. Minnesota (16-3-2), 143 — Last Week: 2

• Last Week: No Games

• Coming Week: @ Minnesota-Duluth (1/13, 1/14)

The extended break was a good plan for Minnesota, based on the results from around the country, though they did have an exhibition against the Whitecaps. They return to the meat grinder this weekend, travelling to their biggest threat outside of Wisconsin out west when they go to Duluth.

3. Clarkson (15-3-4), 117 — Last Week: 4

• Last Week: No Games

• Coming Week:  v Yale (1/13), v Brown (1/14)

The ECAC leading Golden Knights return to play hosting a pair of Ivies. With the Saints stumbling in the last week, they look to gain ground in the national rankings.

4. Minnesota-Duluth (13-4-3), 109— Last Week: 5

• Last Week: No Games

• Coming Week: v Minnesota (1/13, 1/14)

The Bulldogs host the Gophers in an attempt to move up to a home ice position.

5. St. Lawrence (16-2-2), 100 — Last week: 3

• Last Week: L 2-5 v Mercyhurst (1/7), W 3-2 v Mercyhurst (1/8)

• Coming Week: v Brown (1/13), v Yale (1/14)

After struggling in a midseason exhibition, the Saints traveled to the nation’s capital to play a pair against Mercyhurst that they also struggled in. The loss to the Lakers was a major blow to their postseason goals. They return to ECAC play this weekend, hosting a pair of Ivies.

6. Boston College (13-3-4), 78 — Last Week: 6

• Last Week: W 4-3 v Syracuse (1/3), T 1-1 OT v Boston University (1/7)

• Coming Week: v Harvard (1/10), v Merrimack (1/13), @ Merrimack (1/14)

The suspension of Toni-Ann Miano for the second half of the season has some Chicken Eagle Littles claiming the season is over for them. This is an overreaction, but the Eagles are struggling and need to get their footing again soon. If they drop a point to Harvard this week it will almost certainly cost them any chance at home ice for the NCAAs, though this will be discussed in further detail in the upcoming bracketology column.

7. Quinnipiac (15-5-4), 55 — Last Week: 8

• Last Week: W 2-1 v Penn State (12/30), L 2-3 @ Princeton (1/1), T 2-2 OT v Harvard (1/6), W 3-1 v Dartmouth (1/7)

• Coming Week: @ Colgate (1/13), @ Cornell (1/14)

The break was not kind to the Bobcats; they played a number of games and came away with only three of six points. They head on the road to try and stay in the hunt in the ECAC.

8. Robert Morris (14-1-5), 39 — Last Week: 9

• Last Week: W 5-1 v Brown (12/30), W 5-3 v Brown (12/31)

• Coming Week: v Lindenwood (1/13, 1/14)

The Colonials hosted Brown and were able to take care of business. As the only team to play and not lose a game, and earning their coach his 100th win, they have earned the title of Belles of the Ball once again. They now host a Lindenwood team that had 19 players go to the hospital due to carbon monoxide, so the visitors’ ability to pull off an upset is in question.

9. Colgate (15-3-3), 30 — Last Week: 7

• Last Week: L 4-7 @ St. Cloud St. (1/6), T 0-0 OT @ St. Cloud St. (1/67)

• Coming Week: v Quinnipiac (1/13), v Princeton (1/14)

The Raiders had a prime chance to move up with everyone else faltering, but they went west and struggled mightily. They have a pair of conference games that they need to win to stay within shouting distance in the standings.

10. Boston University (12-7-2), 18 — Last Week: ARV

• Last Week: T 1-1 @ Boston College (1/7)

• Coming Week: @ Connecticut (1/10), v Vermont (1/14, 1/15)

The Terriers are riding the what-have-you-done-for-me-lately vote back into the top 10 after a very long absence. After a shocking OT winner against Minnesota right before the break (they had been blown out by Minnesota 5-1 the day before), Boston University went out to Chestnut Hill and took the reeling Eagles to OT but were unable to finish that one off. They now have a trio of games against teams that have beaten them before and are eager to do so again.

***

Also Receiving Votes: Princeton 12, North Dakota 10, Northeastern 4, Ohio State 3, Vermont 1, Harvard 1,

Dropped Out: Cornell, Minnesota State