Black Bears Again Atop USCHO.com/CSTV Poll

Maine was again the clear-cut choice in this week’s USCHO.com/CSTV Division I men’s poll, released Monday. The Black Bears, who beat Massachusetts in their lone game last week, earned 37 of 40 first-place votes to run away with the No. 1 position for the second straight week.

In second place this week was Minnesota, which dominated Colorado College in a home sweep and picked up one first-place vote. The Gophers were followed by Boston College, up two spots after beating Wisconsin twice in Madison, Wis., as the Eagles and Badgers rematched last season’s NCAA title game.

Miami swept Bowling Green to move up from seventh to fourth. The RedHawks were followed by Wisconsin, down from second last week in the wake of its losses to BC.

At No. 6 this week was Michigan State, which rose three spots after beating St. Lawrence and Sacred Heart. Boston University, which lost to Massachusetts-Lowell, was down to seventh, and North Dakota was No. 8 after sweeping Minnesota State.

Ninth place in this week’s rankings went to Michigan, which split with Northeastern, and Notre Dame entered the top 10 by beating Army and Air Force to win the Lightning College Hockey Classic.

Dartmouth was No. 11, up six places after beating Harvard and Vermont, while Cornell was No. 12 after opening its season with wins over Robert Morris and RIT. New Hampshire, which lost to Massachusetts and Yale, was down five spots to No. 13, followed by Clarkson and Denver.

No. 16 was Harvard, and St. Cloud State was No. 17, while Michigan Tech debuted at No. 18 after sweeping Alaska-Anchorage. Northern Michigan and Nebraska-Omaha rounded out the poll.

Dropping out of the rankings this week were Vermont and Colorado College.