Hockey polls: Mavericks fall from top, Gophers back in top 20
There have been some big changes in this week's men's college hockey polls.
After sitting atop the poll for another week, Minnesota State University has now fallen to No. 2 in the USCHO men's hockey poll and No. 3 in the in the USA Today/USA Hockey Magazine poll.
Both polls were released on Monday, and North Dakota has climbed to the top of each of them.
Minnesota Duluth remained at No. 7 in both of the polls.
After a three-week absence and a six-game unbeaten streak that included a weekend sweep over Michigan, the Gophers returned to the top 20. Minnesota was ranked 17th by USCHO and 15th by USA Today/USA Hockey Magazine.
According to the Star Tribune, that ends a stretch where the Gophers were unranked for the first time since April 2011.
More importantly though, Minnesota remained at No. 13 in the PairWise Rankings – that's the poll to determine which teams qualify for the 16-team NCAA Tournament.
Minnesota State remains on top of that listing and Minnesota Duluth is fourth.
