The second major national hockey poll is out.

And the Gophers are a distant No. 2 behind Boston College, the defending NCAA champion.

BC received 35 votes for the top spot, the Gophers 12 and Michigan three.

Last week the Gophers and BC were tied for first in the USA Today preseason poll.

Who is No. 1 could be decided on the ice in December. Boston College is the Mariucci Classic and will play the Gophers on the second day of their holiday tournament. The Eagles beat the Gophers 6-1 in the semifinal of the Frozen Four last April.

USCHO.com poll

1Boston College(35)33-10-1972
2Minnesota(12)28-14-1937
3Michigan( 3)24-13-4857
4North Dakota 26-13-3826
5Union 26- 8-7789
6Cornell 19- 9-7631
7Massachusetts-Lowell 24-13-1599
8Denver 25-14-4566
9Miami 24-15-2553
10Western Michigan 21-14-6516
11Ferris State 26-12-5472
12Minnesota-Duluth 25-10-6460
13Boston University 23-15-1413
14Notre Dame 19-18-3395
15Maine 23-14-3234
16Michigan State 19-16-4219
17Harvard 13-10-11213
18Wisconsin 17-18-2202
19Air Force 21-11-7116
20Colorado College 18-16-281