Gophers men's hockey climbs to No. 1 in national polls

The Gophers are the top team in men's college hockey. They jumped two spots in the most recent USCHO.com and USA Hockey/USA Hockey Magazine polls to claim No. 1.

Notre Dame, Miami (Ohio), Michigan and Boston College round out the top five. The Gophers received 25 of 34 first-place votes. (Complete rankings below)

The early rise to the top was made possible by the Gophers' 4-0 start and slip ups in front of them. Last weekend, No. 1 Miami fell to North Dakota and No. 2 Wisconsin lost to Boston College. In Week 1, No. 1 UMass-Lowell and No. 4 Boston College both lost.

The Gophers started the season ranked No. 5.

Coach Don Lucia isn't so sure his team is ready for No. 1. Check out my game story and postgame video (below) from Saturday night's 5-1 over Bemidji for more on Lucia's reaction.

(Gophers defenseman Mike Reilly reacts to No. 1.)

No. 5 Boston College will put the Gophers' No. 1 ranking to test this weekend. The Eagles are in town for a Friday and Sunday two-game series.

Complete USCHO.com poll.

USA Today/USA Hockey Magazine 19th Annual Men's College Hockey Poll - #3
(First-place votes in parentheses)

Rank

School

Last
Week's
Ranking

Weeks in Top 15

1

University of Minnesota, 495 (25)

3

4-0-0

2

University of Notre Dame, 439 (5)

4

4-0-0

4

Miami University, 421 (1)

1

3-1-0

4

4

5

3-0-1

4

5

Boston College, 370

2-1-0

4

6

Yale University, 311 (3)

T-6

4

7

University of North Dakota, 302

8

2-1-1

8

Providence College, 280

10

3-0-0

4

Quinnipiac University, 231

14

3-1-0

4

10

11

1-0-1

4

11

University of Wisconsin, 166

2-2-0

4

12

Rensselaer, 128

RV

1

13

University of New Hampshire, 99

13

1-2-1

14

Boston University, 85

RV

3-1-0

1

Lake Superior State University, 65

NR

4-0-0

1