Rankings- Standings and News– Below
By Roy J. Akers- www.skyviewsports.net
The University of Denver is the top ranked college hockey team in the country and three B1G teams are in hot pursuit. Denver earned all 50 USCHO first place votes. The B1G’s MSU (2nd), Minnesota (4th) and UM (T-5th). The Big Ten has all all seven teams in the league with points in the poll this week.
The CCHA places Minnesota State at 17th in the USCHO poll and Michigan Tech finished as the top point getter outside the top 20.
Western Michigan is ranked 9th and www.skyviewsports.net will be at the Michigan game vs. WMU next weekend.
Others receiving votes: Michigan Tech 68, Harvard 35, Penn State 24, Union 16, New Hampshire 15, Notre Dame 13, Niagara 8, Bentley 5, Arizona State 4, Bemidji State 3, Connecticut 3, Augustana 2, Air Force 1, Wisconsin 1
MSU is undefeated in B1G play and travels to Penn State. Minnesota visits Notre Dame in league play.
In the CCHA, Michigan Tech is the only team to remain undefeated after four league games.
Big Ten-CCHA News and Notes
University of Minnesota
Minnesota picked up its ninth-straight victory on Thursday in a 5-3 home win over Bemidji State thanks to a pair of goals from Brody Lamb and the eventual game winner from John Mittelstadt. The streak ended two days later on the road as the Beavers earned a series split behind a defensive effort that limited the Gophers to one goal on 39 shots during a 3-1 setback. Oliver Moore ended a six-game point drought with a team-best three points as he reached the scoresheet in both outings, while Matthew Wood’s Saturday goal was his first tally since Oct. 25.
TIME TO START A NEW STREAK
Minnesota saw its winning streak stop Saturday after nine-consecutive victories and looks to begin a new streak with four series remaining before the holiday break, including three at home. It was the third time the Gophers had won nine or more games in a row since the start of the 2020-21 campaign. During the recent stretch, the Maroon and Gold were dominating in all facets of the game and outscored its opponents by a 40-17 margin thanks to a 10-3 advantage in power-play goals. Jimmy Snuggerud led the charge as he totaled 14 points and had a point in eight of the nine outings, while four other skaters reached double-digit points in that span. The goaltending tandem of Nathan Airey and Liam Souliere limited the opposition to a combined 1.88 goals-against average and a .926 save percentage.
Western Michigan
KALAMAZOO, Mich. – Western Michigan will hit the road for a series at Minnesota Duluth beginning on Friday, Nov. 22. The series opener between the Broncos and Bulldogs will begin at 8 PM ET at AMSOIL Arena.
LAST TIME OUT-The Broncos completed an unbeaten weekend against No. 8 Colorado College, earning a 1-0-1 record against the Tigers. WMU won 3-2 in overtime on Nov. 15 before closing out the series on Nov. 16 with a 1-1 tie.
HAMMER TIME– Freshman goaltender Hampton Slukynsky has been exceptional throughout the early portion of the 2024-25 season, entering the weekend with a 2-1-1 record, 1.72 goals against average and .944 save percentage.
Michigan Tech Univ.
WEEKEND SERIES
• No. 20 Michigan Tech hosts No. 17 Minnesota State for a CCHA series at the John MacInnes Student Ice Arena.
STATISTICAL NOTES
• Stiven Sardarian leads the Huskies with 6 goals and ranks second in the CCHA. He has three game-winning goals and was named the CCHA Forward of the Week on Nov. 11. He has scored in four straight games.
• Tech ranks sixth in the nation in scoring defense, allowing 1.75 goals per game.
• The Huskies lead the CCHA in fewest penalty minutes per game (5:15).
• Goaltender Derek Mullahy is fourth in the nation with a .946 save percentage and fifth with a 1.48 goals-against average.
SERIES INFO
• MSU leads the all-time series 53-29-10, dating back to 1996.
• The Huskies are 20-21-7 against the Mavs at home.
• Tech went 4-1 against MSU last year which included their first ever road sweep of the Mavs.
• The teams last met in the 2024 CCHA Semifinal with the Huskies advancing to the Mason Cup Championship Game after a 4-3 win at the Mac.