2023-24 College Hockey Power Rankings

Each week veteran hockey analyst Chris Peters delivers his men's college hockey power rankings. Check back every week to see who's rising, who's falling and where your favorite team might land.

NOTE: We're back from our extended holiday break through the World Juniors and will have rankings all the way through the selection of the NCAA Tournament field the rest of the season.

1. Boston College (13-3-1) | Last Week: 1

The Eagles have been idle while seven of their players were with Team USA at the World Juniors. Leading goal scorer Cutter Gauthier (ANA) was named the tournament's top forward and a media all-star, and then was traded to a new organization in a wild swing of events. Distractions aside, BC is back in action this weekend in a big home-and-home series with Providence.

Excited to have our 7⃣ World Junior gold medalists back on the Heights on Friday and we'll honor them before the Providence game 🥇

🎟️ https://t.co/duLTGcDSdF pic.twitter.com/IBxFjobkAD

— BC Men's Hockey (@BC_MHockey) January 10, 2024

2. Boston University (13-4-1) | Last Week: 3

Returning from break with an OT win over Northeastern got the Terriers back on track. Lane Hutson (MTL), fresh off a World Junior gold medal, had three points in his return game. While Macklin Celebrini (2024) had a pair of points including a power-play goal. BU will take on UNH this weekend in their lone game.

3. Quinnipiac (13-4-2) | Last Week: 2

A win over Holy Cross and a tie at Northeastern over the last week stretched the Bobcats' unbeaten streak to five games. QU heads into the teeth of its ECAC schedule to close out the season and has the Nutmeg Cup on the horizon as well. The Bobcats still look very much in control.

4. Denver (14-5-1) | Last Week: 5

The Pioneers swept Niagara while head coach David Carle was away leading the U.S. to the gold medal at the World Juniors. Denver has won five of their last six games and have a challenging NCHC slate to close out the season. Coming into the Mile High City this weekend will be St. Cloud State and head coach Brett Larson, who was on Carle's staff at the WJC.

Mose and Ryker were joined by @DU_Hockey head coach and the head coach of the gold medal USA #worldjuniors David Carle! #GoAvsGo pic.twitter.com/et8nezp5V1

— AltitudeTV (@AltitudeTV) January 11, 2024

5. Wisconsin (18-4-1) | Last Week: 7

The Badgers are back on a heater, having won nine consecutive games including both games at their holiday tournament and a Big Ten road sweep of Notre Dame last weekend. They'll play their last non-conference showdown against Lindenwood this weekend and it will be all Big Ten from there on out, but Wisconsin is rolling.

6. Maine (13-3-2) | Last Week: 8

With a win and a tie against Colgate last weekend, the Black Bears are unbeaten in eight consecutive games and their scoring attack is running hot. Maine will play only conference games from here on out with a realistic chance of winning Hockey East this year. Both Boston teams are in their way, but the Black Bears have been tough to slow down this season.

7. North Dakota (14-5-1) | Last Week: 5

After limping into the holiday break, North Dakota roared back with a sweep of Alaska at home last weekend. They've got another home series against Omaha coming up as their efforts to win the NCHC regular-season title remain very much alive and well.

8. Michigan State (13-4-3) | Last Week: 6

Winter break is just about over for the Spartans as they prepare to travel to Happy Valley this weekend for a road date with Penn State. Michigan State had four players at the recent World Juniors including Isaac Howard (TBL), who tied for the tournament lead in goals with seven, and Trey Augustine (DET) who backstopped Team USA to the gold medal with a .934 save percentage in four starts.

Spartans Shine at World Junior Championships:https://t.co/qY3Fe0eYoP pic.twitter.com/IOBVa1tibp

— Michigan State Hockey (@MSU_Hockey) January 10, 2024

9. Western Michigan (13-4-1) | Last Week: 11

With wins in 10 of their last 11 games and that only loss coming to Denver -- in overtime -- the Broncos are trending up. They picked up a non-conference road sweep against Lindenwood in their return from break and will hit the road to take on Miami in NCHC action this weekend. Western senior Luke Grainger is one of just three players in the country with at least 30 points.

10. Arizona State (16-3-5) | Last Week: 12

Unbeaten since November, the Sun Devils had wins over Harvard and Omaha in their most recent games at the Desert Hockey Classic tournament that they host. They'll have two critical games against Cornell this weekend which will be important for picking up some points in the pairwise as ASU's only path to the NCAA tournament is as an at-large berth. They're right on the edge of the Pairwise right now, so every game going forward counts, but this weekend gives them a real chance to gain some ground.

11. UMass (11-3-5) | Last Week: 9

The Minutemen returned from winter break with a 3-3 tie (and shootout loss) against UConn in Hockey East play, but will have a chance to get right back at it this weekend in a home-and-home series with Merrimack, which feels like a big one for both teams. UMass will have Michael Hrabal (ARI) and Dans Locmelis (BOS) back from the World Juniors as they look to start the second half strong.

12. Providence (10-5-2) | Last Week: 13

Providence came out of the break with an exhibition game against Canadian university Simon Fraser. That was a good way to shake off the cobwebs because they've got No. 1 Boston College in a home-and-home this weekend. In a meeting last month, the Eagles earned a 5-4 victory over Providence in a tight game. This weekend series could be one of the best on the college hockey slate.

13. Minnesota (10-6-4) | Last Week: 10

The Gophers split with Colorado College coming out of the break, but they got a big-time performance from Jimmy Snuggerud (STL), who was fresh off of winning gold at the World Juniors. Snuggerud had five goals and an assist over the weekend. The sophomore standout is up to a team-best 16 goals this season. They take on Robert Morris in a home non-conference series this weekend.

That W was Jimmy certified 👍 pic.twitter.com/Zjfvvm1YaC

— Minnesota Men’s Hockey (@GopherHockey) January 9, 2024

14. New Hampshire (11-5-1) | Last Week: 14

Coming out of the break with a non-conference sweep of Princeton, the Wildcats are gearing up for a massive Hockey East showdown with BU this weekend. UNH had a few stumbles in December, but they're still in good position as they closer out the year with Hockey East games exclusively.

15. St. Cloud State (11-5-2) | Last Week: NR

A sweep against Bemidji State just before the new year helped put St. Cloud State on a good foot heading into a two-week break. They'll end their hiatus this weekend with a big series at Denver. These two games will be the first of four against the NCHC foes before the season is out. The Huskies have a big prove-it weekend ahead against a tough Denver squad on the road.

16. RIT (13-6-1) | Last Week: 16

RIT picked up a win over Clarkson and a tie against St. Lawrence in their trip to New York's North Country. That keeps the Tigers above .500 in non-conference play. They'll closer out the season with an exclusive Atlantic Hockey slate here, but they've built up some serious credibility heading into the toughest part of the season. RIT likely still needs to win Atlantic Hockey for an NCAA berth, but they've bee really strong this season.

Dropped Out: Michigan