College Hockey Update:. Last week featured two top-twelve matchups, and Cornell edged up to #2 after winning at Clarkson, edging the Golden Knights down to #8 (Cornell won the next night at St. Lawrence, and Clarkson hosted and beat Colgate the next night); while Denver dropped down two spots to #4 after they settled on a tie, and then lost, at North Dakota, which boosted the Screaming Hawks up four pegs to #5.

Elsewhere, Notre Dame edged up to #3 after splitting their weekend at Wisconsin; Pennsylvania State moved up two notches to #6 after sweeping their weekend at Minnesota; and Massachusetts dropped down two slots to #7 after a losing at Boston University Friday night, and then hosting and beating B.U. Saturday night (UMass compiled a blistering 92 shots on goal on the weekend, as BU’s Sam Tucker stopped 49 of 52 in his win on Friday, and 36 of 39 in his loss on Saturday).  Minnesota-Duluth dropped down three spots to #9 after splitting their weekend at Miami of Ohio; Harvard jumped up three pegs and into the top twelve at #10 after wins at Brown and Yale; and Providence dropped two notches to #12 after hosting and beating Northeastern, then traveling to, and losing, at Northeastern.  An idle Mankato State held at #1, and idle Ohio State held at #11.

Last weekend North Dakota had huge help from senior forward Cole Smith, of Brainerd, MN., who scored two goals in his team’s 4-1 win over Denver Saturday night, as the Hawks tied and beat Denver on their weekend at home.  The 6’3″ 197lb forward is tied for second on his team in goals scored, with four, and is tied for eleventh on the team in assists, with two.  As a junior he tied for sixth in goals with four, and tied for fourth in assists with eleven; as a sophomore he tied for ninth in goals with five, and tied for fourteenth in assists with five; and freshman year he tied for twelfth in goals with three, and tied for sixteenth in assists with four.  His hometown of Brainerd was founded in 1870 and incorporated in 1873, and is home to 13,000 its residents who are spread out among its 13 square miles, which straddle the banks of the Mississippi River.  It can be a chilly place, with an average high/low for January of 20/-4; its record low is -54.  You might remember Brainerd from the 1996 biopic film, and pride and joy of Minnesotans everywhere, “Fargo;” it was the hometown of Police Chief Marge Gunderson.  Doncha know.

Saturday night it was a power play goal by Cole Smith that got things started for North Dakota, as they went up 1-0 thirteen minutes into the first.  Only one minute later a Josh Rieger goal gave North Dakota a 2-0 advantage; North Dakota out-shot Denver 9-4 in the period.  In the second, Denver came out swinging and they compiled an 11-7 shots advantage, but it was Cole Smith who scored the loan goal of the frame, putting North Dakota up 3-1.  In the third, Denver amassed a 13-6 shots advantage, but it took them until the thirteen minute point to score.  The pulled their goalie late, but the only thing it produced was an empty-netter by Westin Michaud for the Hawks, as they took him the 4-1 win.  The game the night before was much tighter, as each team scored a goal in the second at the eleven and twelve minute marks, then skated scoreless to the end of the game and through OT to produce the 1-1 final score.

North Dakota coach Brad Berry moved up from his assistant coach position in May of 2015 after Dave Hakstol became the head coach of the Philadelphia Flyers. Berry, a former NHL Defenseman, is from Bashaw, ALB., and played college hockey at North Dakota.  In addition to nine years as an assistant at North Dakota, he spent a year as a scout for the Dallas Stars and two years as an assistant coach for the Columbus Blue Jackets.  Berry is now in his fifth season as head coach, and his teams have compiled a 98-53-21 record to date, including two trips to the NCAA Tournament, taking the title in 2016, his first season.  The Hawks are ranked #5 with a record of 8-1-2. North Dakota has seven game unbeaten streak with a record of 5-0-2, having not lost since their sole loss on October 19th.  You have to wonder if this North Dakota team is turning into a steamroller.  This weekend we’ll see how the St. Cloud State Huskies do against this seemingly unstoppable force, given two games to try, as #5 North Dakota will host St. Cloud.

This weekend features a top twelve matchup, as #6 Pennsylvania State hosts #11 Ohio State University for two games.

This provides the top twelve teams, rankings, records, and last week’s results:

[table id=202 /]

That’s all for now.  Stay tuned, and go Terriers!

— Tom