SB Nation’s Women’s College Hockey Division I Poll: Cancellation Quirkiness

Lots of scheduling changes this week as we are almost to the playoffs. The voters seem pretty locked in their views of each of the teams and we see lots of disagreement between the East and West.

1. Wisconsin (11-2-1), 76 (5) — Last poll: 1

• Last week: W 4-0 v Bemidji State (2/12), W 7-0 v Bemidji State (2/13)
• Coming Week: No Games/

A pair of games against Bemidji should have the Badgers locked into the top seed as they get a weekend off. They might be rewarded with a first round matchup with Minnesota.

2. Northeastern (15-1-1), 72 (3) — Last poll: 2

• Last week: W 6-1 @ New Hampshire (2/13), W 4-1 v New Hampshire (2/14)
• Coming Week: TBD/

All streaks must end. After more than seven hours of game play over more than three weeks and 43 unanswered goals Northeastern let up a goal to UNH which they promptly responded to en route to two convincing victories. While we do not know exactly how Hockey East is calculating their standings, Northeastern should be all but locked into the top seed.

3. Ohio State (11-5-0), 66 — Last poll: 3

• Last Week: W 2-1 @ Minnesota (2/12), W 3-2 @ Minnesota (2/13)
• Coming Week: v St. Cloud State (2/19, 2/20)/

Ohio State took on Minnesota and punched them in the mouth and made themselves this week’s ‘Belles of the Ball.’ The two wins should give the Buckeyes a second or third seed and likely a matchup with Duluth instead of one of the good teams in the WCHA, assuming they take care of business at home against the Huskies.

4. Colgate (11-4-1), 54 — Last poll: 5

• Last week: No Games
• Coming Week: @ St. Lawrence (2/19), v St. Lawrence (2/21)/

Colgate had their games taken off the schedule last week and will try to return to action against the Saints.

5. Minnesota (9-7-1), 48 — Last poll: 4

• Last week: L 1-2 v Ohio State (2/12), L 2-3 v Ohio State (2/13)
• Coming Week: @ Bemidji State (2/19, 2/20)/

Two tight losses might have doomed the Gophers to a first round matchup against the Badgers in the WCHA playoffs. This week will see Minnesota head up to Bemidji for a pair in their last regular season games.

6. Boston College (13-3-0), 41 — Last poll: 6

• Last week: W 2-1 OT v Providence (2/12)
• Coming Week: TBD/

A clutch goal in OT seemingly exorcized their losses to Providence earlier this year. Their second game was cancelled as it seems there were positive cases in the Providence program.

7. Clarkson (8-6-1), 29 — Last poll: 8

• Last week: No Games
• Coming Week: @ St. Lawrence (2/17), Quinnipiac (2/19, 2/20)/

After all their games were cancelled last week the Golden Knights have another three game week scheduled.

8. Minnesota-Duluth (8-4-0), 23 — Last poll: 7

• Last week: No Games
• Coming Week: v Minnesota State (2/19, 2/20)/

Duluth had their games cancelled last week and now get to play Mankato for a pair at home. Winning these games will likely lock them into at least the three seed in the WCHA, despite the numbers saying they are the clear fourth best team in the league.

9. Penn State (13-1-2), 18— Last poll: 9

• Last week: W 2-0 v RIT (2/9), W 7-1 v RIT (2/10)
• Coming Week: @ RIT (2/19, 2/20)/

Two midweek wins over hapless RIT set them up for two more games agains that same RIT team.

10. Providence (10-6-1), 12 — Last poll: 10

• Last week: L 1-2 OT @ Boston College (2/12)
• Coming Week: TBD/

Providence is struggling of late. The OT loss to Boston College lessens their marquee sweep of the Eagles earlier in the season. After they had their second game of the weekend cancelled there are concerns if they might be having an outbreak at the most inopportune time.

Also Receiving Votes: Vermont 1