December 17, 2006
INCH Power Rankings

As we do most weeks during the college hockey season, we've made our list and checked it twice. Not much has changed in the INCH Power Rankings after a quiet weekend on the schedule, but this week's list includes a Christmas wish from each team in the Top 20.

Here's how the Inside College Hockey editors and staff rank the nation's top teams (along with a note for each team).

Note: The next INCH Power Rankings will be published on Jan. 2.

No.	Team		Christmas Wish
1.	Minnesota	—	A healthy 2007 — none of the Gophers have missed significant time due to injury so far this season.
15-1-3 (9-0-3 WCHA) LAST WEEK: Off. NEXT GAMES: Dodge Holiday Classic; Minneapolis, Minn.; Dec. 29-30.
2.	New Hampshire	—	An extra helping of goaltender Kevin Regan. Sure, the 'Cats can have firepower on offense, but winning is a lot easier when the other team can't score ... as evidenced by the 19 goals UNH has allowed during its 12-game unbeaten streak.
13-2-1 (10-1-1 Hockey East) LAST WEEK: Off. NEXT GAMES: Florida College Classic; Estero, Fla.; Dec. 29-30.
3.	Notre Dame	—	That a successful regular-season, an NCAA Tournament berth, and — dare we say? — a CCHA regular-season or playoff title will convince the school's brass to break ground on a long-awaited hockey facility.
14-3-1 (9-2-1 CCHA) LAST WEEK: Off. NEXT GAMES: vs. Northern Michigan, Dec. 30-31.
4.	Miami	1	That Nathan Davis, the country's best player through the first half of the season, and the rest of the young RedHawks (only four seniors dot the team's regular lineup) keep playing as if they're not a year away.
14-5-1 (10-3-1 CCHA) LAST WEEK: Off. NEXT GAMES: Ohio Hockey Classic; Columbus, Ohio; Dec. 29-30.
5.	Maine	1	A day off of practice here or there for goalie Ben Bishop, because odds are he won't watch a game from the bench the rest of the season.
10-3-2 (5-3-1 Hockey East) LAST WEEK: T vs. Mercyhurst, 1-1 ot. NEXT GAMES: Florida College Classic; Estero, Fla.; Dec. 29-30.
6.	St. Cloud State	—	Blinders, so the Huskies can't see that the last five weeks of the regular season schedule hold series with Denver, Colorado College, Wisconsin, Minnesota, and North Dakota.
10-3-3 (6-3-3 WCHA) LAST WEEK: Off. NEXT GAMES: Sheraton / TD Banknorth Tournament; Burlington, Vt.; Dec. 29-30.
7.	Boston College	—	A lesson from "Studio 60 on Sunset Strip," which has shown that boffo pre-season hype doesn't necessarily lead to great things in the regular season.
9-5-1 (6-3-1 Hockey East) LAST WEEK: Off. NEXT GAME: at Northeastern, Jan. 5.
8.	Colorado College	—	That their balanced scoring continues. Eight Tigers have already have double-digit point totals.
11-6-1 (8-4-0 WCHA) LAST WEEK: Off. NEXT GAMES: vs. Bemidji State, Dec. 29-30.
9.	Boston University	—	Where to start? How 'bout a healthy Brandon Yip, a bodyguard for goalie John Curry, and a week in which scored two goals in a game is not considered an offensive explosion?
6-3-5 (4-3-4 Hockey East) LAST WEEK: Off. NEXT GAMES: Ledyard Bank Tournament; Hanover, N.H.; Dec. 29-30.
10.	Denver	2	A cure for cabin fever, perhaps: Between now and the end of the regular season, the Pioneers play 13 of 18 at home, and one of those road matches is a date at Colorado College in March.
12-6-2 (8-4-2 WCHA) LAST WEEK: W at Alaska-Anchorage, 4-2; W at Alaska-Anchorage, 2-0. NEXT GAMES: Wells Fargo Denver Cup; Denver; Dec. 29-30.
11.	Michigan	1	That Billy Sauer (3.51 GAA, .884 save pct.) plays like Billy Smith when he returns from the holiday break.
12-7-0 (8-5-0 CCHA) LAST WEEK: Off. NEXT GAMES: Great Lakes Invitational; Detroit; Dec. 29-30.
12.	Cornell	1	A change in fortune on special teams, where Cornell is ranked 38th on the power play and 43rd in penalty killing.
8-3-1 (5-2-1 ECACHL) LAST WEEK: Off. NEXT GAMES: Florida College Classic; Estero, Fla.; Dec. 29-30.
13.	Clarkson	—	More good stuff from goalie David Leggio, who has been the biggest surprise for the Golden Knights this year.
11-5-1 (5-2-0 ECACHL) LAST WEEK: Off. NEXT GAMES: Badger Showdown; Madison, Wis.; Dec. 29-30.
14.	Vermont	—	A little more help at the offensive end for Torrey Mitchell and Dean Strong, as the Catamounts rank 42nd in the country in total offense.
10-5-1 (6-2-1 Hockey East) LAST WEEK: W at St. Lawrence, 4-0. NEXT GAMES: Sheraton / TD Banknorth Tournament; Burlington, Vt.; Dec. 29-30.
15.	Massachusetts	—	More guys whose last name begins with Q. Sophomore forward Cory Quirk (16 points in 15 games) and sophomore goalie Jon Quick (2.22 GAA, .929 save pct.) have the Minumtemen battling for a top-four finish in the competitive Hockey East race.
8-5-2 (5-4-1 Hockey East) LAST WEEK: Off. NEXT GAMES: Dodge Holiday Classic; Minneapolis, Minn.; Dec. 29-30.
16.	Michigan State	—	A trip in the wayback machine for Jeff Lerg, who was phenomenal (1.96 GAA, .928 save pct.) as a freshman but has stumbled (2.78 GAA, .895 save pct.) as a sophomore.
9-7-1 (7-5-1 CCHA) LAST WEEK: Off. NEXT GAMES: Great Lakes Invitational; Detroit; Dec. 29-30.
17.	Quinnipiac	—	Some energy bars and continued good health for goalie Bud Fisher, who has started all 16 of Quinnipiac's games this year.
8-4-4 (5-2-3 ECACHL) LAST WEEK: Off. NEXT GAME: vs. RIT, Jan. 4.
18.	Lake Superior State	—	That history doesn't repeat itself. Last year's Lakers were 10-6-4 heading into Christmas and posted a 5-8-3 mark down the stretch. This year, LSSU ended the first half with an 11-5-3 record.
11-5-2 (6-4-2 CCHA) LAST WEEK: L vs. US Under-18s, 3-1 (Ex.). NEXT GAMES: Badger Showdown; Madison, Wis.; Dec. 29-30.
19.	Niagara	1	How about a little love for the line of Sean Bentivoglio, Ted Cook, and Les Reaney? The trio has combined for 88 points in 19 games.
10-6-3 (6-1-3 CHA) LAST WEEK: Off. NEXT GAME: at Canisius, Dec. 30.
20.	Bemidji State	NR	That they could have October back. The Beavers were 0-3-1 that month, and are 9-1-2 since.
9-4-3 (5-2-3 CHA) LAST WEEK: W vs. Alabama-Huntsville, 3-2; W vs. Alabama-Huntsville, 4-2. NEXT GAMES: at Colorado College, Dec. 29-30.

Dropped out: Dartmouth

Bubble-licious: Sacred Heart, Dartmouth, Brown