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Gophers stay unbeaten, maintain top spot in polls

01/04/2021, 1:00pm CST
By LPH

Jack LaFaontaine has been a big reason why the Gophers are where they are, still undefeated and No. 1 in the country. Photo by Brad Rempel/University of Minnesota

The University of Minnesota maintained their hold on the top spot in the country the USA Today/USA Hockey Magazine poll with another win to kick off the second half of the season Sunday, defeating Arizona State 4-1. It was another impressive game for the Golden Gophers who once again got solid goaltending from Jack LaFontaine, who stopped 27 shots. Sampo Ranta scored twice, tying him with Scott Reedy for tops on the team with six. Jonny Sorenson and Mike Koster each scored their second goals of the season. 

Boston College maintained the No. 2 slot and North Dakota stayed at No. 3. UND's slate against University of Omaha-Nebraska is postponed for this week due to positive Covid tests in the Omaha program. Minnesota State (Mankato) and the University of Minnesota-Duluth switched places and St. Cloud State dropped to No. 7.

A big upcoming series this week has St. Cloud State heading to UMD Friday and Saturday.

USA Today/USA Hockey Magazine Men's College Hockey Poll

Place Team Last Week Record Weeks in Top 15
1 University of Minnesota, 506 (30) 1 9-0-0 9
2 Boston College, 473 (4) 2 5-1-0 9
3 University of North Dakota, 446 3 7-2-1 9
4 Minnesota State University, 388 5 5-1-1 9
5 University of Minnesota Duluth, 384 4 6-3-2 9
6 Bowling Green State University, 317 7 11-1-0 4
7 St. Cloud State University, 306 6 7-4-0 5
8 University of Massachusetts, 285 9 8-3-1 9
9 University of Michigan, 196 8 5-5-0 9
10 Clarkson University, 186 12 6-3-1 8
11 University of Nebraska-Omaha, 177 11 6-3-1 3
12 Quinnipiac University, 85 13 6-3-1 8
13 University of Massachusetts-Lowell, 82 NR 2-1-0 7
14 University of Wisconsin, 77 15 5-5-0 7
15 Northeastern University, 64 10 3-3-2 6

Others Receiving Votes: AIC, 26: Michigan Tech University, 24; Providence College, 19; University of Denver, 18; Robert Morris University, 16; Michigan State University, 3; Lake Superior State University, 2.

Notes: The University of Minnesota holds the No. 1 ranking with 506 points and 30 first-place votes... The Hockey East Association and NCHC lead with four teams in the ranking, while the Big Ten has have three and the ECAC and WCHA have two... Team records are listed as W-L-T... For past polls, click here.

About the Poll: The 26th annual USA Today/USA Hockey Magazine Men's College Hockey Poll is conducted each week in conjunction with the American Hockey Coaches Association. The poll includes input from coaches and journalists representing each of the six NCAA Division I ice hockey conferences, as well as composite votes from officers of the AHCA and USA Hockey.

Tag(s): State Of Hockey