Which NCAA women’s hockey teams lead as 37 players leave for Olympics?
Across the NCAA, 37 of the top players departed for Olympic national teams, and another handful will find themselves at a six-nations tournament in Austria.
The change stripped NCAA hockey of seven of the top 10 scorers nationally, with major programs like Wisconsin, Minnesota and Ohio State playing with shortened benches due to their absences.The Olympic women’s hockey tournament lasts from Thursday, Feb. 5 to Thursday, Feb. 19. The six-nations tournament in Austria, meanwhile, started on Monday and ends Feb. 8. But women’s college hockey continues, with games every week in that span.
Here’s a look at the top 10 NCAA women’s hockey programs this week:
Women’s college hockey power rankings
1. University of Wisconsin (WCHA)
After dropping its first game of the weekend to Minnesota, Wisconsin’s team responded well despite being without its top players. The Badgers got key performances from forwards Lacey Eden and Cassie Hall, as well as defender Vivian Jungels, who all had multi-point nights in their 6-1 win to close out the weekend.
2. Ohio State University (WCHA)
Despite dressing only five defenders and eight forwards, Ohio State swept Minnesota-Duluth, whose struggles continued this past weekend. Few have been better in NCAA hockey in the last month than Jocelyn Amos, who scored four goals this past weekend for the Buckeyes. It was also netminder Hailey MacLeod’s most consistent back-to-back showings to date, which should give OSU fans hope for the home stretch.
3. University of Minnesota (WCHA)
Minnesota fans should be hopeful for the future. With their youth leading, the Gophers took the opener of their series 3-2 over No. 1 Wisconsin. They couldn’t replicate it in the second game of the series, but without Abbey Murphy, Josefin Bouveng, Nelli Laitinen and others, it was a tall order to face Wisconsin, even without its Olympians.
4. Penn State (AHA)
It was against Robert Morris, but sweeping a weekend series without captain and program superstar Tessa Janecke is still important. Game 1 of their series was a rare outdoor game at Beaver Stadium. Rookie defender Danica Maynard continues to emerge as one of the nation’s best offensive defenders. She’s a smooth skater with deceptive puck skills.
5. Northeastern (Hockey East)
Holy Cross gave Northeastern as much as it could handle last weekend with a pair of one-goal decisions in favor of the Huskies. It was as much a sign of Holy Cross’ growth as it was a negative about Northeastern. Defender Jules Constantinople had an exceptional weekend, including a late-tying goal in the series opener, and rookie Stryker Zablocki continues to make a name for herself, flashing her speed and offensive capabilities.
6. Princeton (ECAC)
Princeton has one of the best top lines in the nation with Mackenzie Alexander, who scored in the Tigers’ wins over Clarkson and St. Lawrence, and Issy Wunder. Princeton, however, is not a one-trick pony. They have received contributions from up and down their lineup, and this season, one of the biggest difference-makers has been netminder Uma Corniea. This past weekend, she stopped 73 of the 74 shots she faced.
7. Quinnipiac (ECAC)
As if the pressure of becoming a top-five team got to Quinnipiac, it dropped games to Clarkson and St. Lawrence. Both opponents managed to keep Kahlen Lamarche from scoring, and both managed to solve Felicia Frank. The Bobcats need the rest of their roster to step up to get it done if they want to climb back in time for the playoffs.
8. Yale (ECAC)
They didn’t face particularly tough opponents in RPI and Union College, but Yale did exactly as it should, putting together two decisive wins. Seniors Carina DiAntonio and Jordan Ray have been exceptional for Yale in the second half of the season, upping both of their statuses for the PWHL draft.
9. Cornell (ECAC)
Cornell dropped a game to Harvard, which hurt, although it’s not Harvard’s first win this season against a ranked opponent. Cornell also shut out Dartmouth 5-0 with five different goal-scorers hitting the scoresheet. If Cornell could put together balanced offensive games like its win over Dartmouth more often, it could make some noise.
10. University of Minnesota-Duluth (WCHA)
It’s hard to explain the slide Minnesota-Duluth has gone on this month, earning only a single win in its last 10 games. Another weekend out of the win column and they’ll slide from the top 10 altogether. Facing a short-benched Ohio State, Minnesota-Duluth squandered a golden opportunity against a conference opponent. Time is running out for the Bulldogs as the playoffs approach.
