Opening Week Causes Big Shifts To NCAA Women's Hockey Rankings

Minnesota-Duluth's weekend sweep of reigning NCAA champions Ohio State was enough to throw the early NCAA women's hockey rankings out the window for a re-write. While many of the nation's top teams haven't dropped the puck yet, the games that took place, with ranked teams including Ohio State, Minnesota-Duluth, and Penn State, were enough to show things have changed.

Here's a look at The Hockey News' Top 10 week one NCAA women's hockey rankings.

1. Wisconsin - Wisconsin didn't play in week one, but they remain at the top. Roster depth, cohesion and chemistry carrying over from last season, dynamic offense, and strong goaltending should keep them atop the rankings. If week one is an indicator however, anything can happen.

2. Minnesota - Another team not in action, what week one did show is that the idea that Ohio State needs to move over in favor of Minnesota and Wisconsin, and now Minnesota-Duluth, is true. Minnesota's returning stars, coupled with the best transfer group in the nation make them national title contenders.

3. Colgate - At the end of the day, this could be Clarkson, it could even be Cornell, or it could be Ohio State or Minnesota-Duluth. For now however, Colgate, who brings a deep forward group and one of the best goaltenders in the nation to the table moves up. Can their defense keep up?

4. Minnesota-Duluth - The question of Minnesota-Duluth's young forward corps was answered quickly...they can already play against top teams. Eve Gascon looks like she'll be a difference maker in net all season, and Caitlin Kraemer did not disappoint. She set herself apart as a top player in the NCAA in her first week.

5. Ohio State - It was not the opening series anyone expected from Ohio State. The loss of eight members of last year's national championship team to the PWHL looks to have disrupted their dominance, and stifled their powerful attack. Don't count Ohio State out yet, as they replaced many of those faces with younger alternatives, meaning this could just be a work in progress. Even if they improve, they aren't as strong as last year.

6. Cornell

7. Clarkson

8. Penn State - A tour of offensive force in week one. They'll be dominant all season against weaker competition. Don't be surprised to see them climb.

9. St. Lawrence

10. Quinnipiac

Honorable Mention: Princeton, Mercyhurst, Connecticut, St. Cloud State, Northeastern

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