With an impressive road sweep of North Dakota, Maine vaulted into the top position in the USCHO.com/CSTV Division I men’s poll released Monday. The Black Bears cornered 34 of 40 first-place votes, easily outdistancing the competition as they moved to 5-0-0 on the season.
At No. 2 for another week was Wisconsin, which took three of four points from Minnesota-Duluth over the weekend. Fellow WCHA school Minnesota was third, leaping up four places after dismantling Ohio State twice in Columbus.
Boston University beat Northeastern and Merrimack to climb to No. 4, followed by its archrival and last week’s No. 1, Boston College. The Eagles lost in a blowout to Notre Dame before recovering to top Bowling Green.
No. 6 was Michigan, which dropped one spot after a split with Miami, which rose two places to follow the Wolverines at No. 7. Eighth this week was New Hampshire, which clambered up four places in the wake of a road sweep at Colorado College.
Ninth place belonged to Michigan State, which was officially idle last week, playing only an exhibition loss to the U.S. Under-18 team. North Dakota was No. 10, all the way down from third after the Black Bears’ sweep.
The next places in the poll were held down by idle Harvard, which like its Ivy League brethren has yet to begin its season, and then the surprising Fighting Irish. Notre Dame came from an unranked position and stormed into the rankings at No. 12 after handily beating BC and Providence.
Cornell was 13th, trailed by Denver and then Clarkson at No. 15.
St. Cloud State was No. 16, with Dartmouth, Maverick Stampede champion Northern Michigan, Vermont — down nine spots after being swept by Michigan Tech — and Colorado College rounding out the Top 20.
Nebraska-Omaha and Colgate dropped out of the rankings this week.
