Minnesota Duluth drops in college hockey power rankings after Augustana series

Minnesota Duluth experienced a slide in the college hockey power rankings, falling from the sixth spot to a four-way tie for No. 10. According to reporting from Christopher Walsh via SI.com, the adjustment followed a two-game series against Augustana where the Bulldogs earned a loss in an overtime contest and a tie in another extra-time battle.

The early-season trajectory for Minnesota Duluth had initially looked promising. Walsh noted that the Bulldogs were No. 6 last week, sitting just behind Quinnipiac after securing two solid home wins against Long Island to open the season. However, the absence of Hobey Baker award winner Max Plante significantly hampered the lineup.

Media additions

"But Hobey Baker winner Max Plante was sidelined by an injury and out for the two-game series at Augustana"

Christopher Walsh, SI.com

Plante's absence during the road trip left Minnesota Duluth vulnerable against an Augustana squad eager to challenge a traditional power on home ice. The resulting weekend outcomes reshuffled the upper tier of the power rankings. As Walsh described, the situation culminated in a four-way tie for No. 10 that includes Augustana, Boston University, Bowling Green, and Minnesota Duluth.

Despite the dip in the standings, the assessment from SI.com suggests that the Bulldogs remain strong contenders. The Bulldogs at full strength are probably the best of the four, and one can't help but believe that they'll bounce back in a big way, Walsh wrote, adding that Augustana earned the right to sit above Minnesota Duluth for the time being based on the weekend results.

Other programs across the collegiate hockey landscape face demanding schedules that could similarly disrupt the rankings in the coming weeks. Boston University is slated to play at Vermont, at UConn, Maine, and at Michigan State, followed by matchups against Harvard and Quinnipiac, alongside hosting reigning champion Denver on Thanksgiving weekend. Meanwhile, Bowling Green holds a 2-2 record with losses to Michigan, though the Falcons rebounded by winning the Icebreaker tournament, which included a victory over Connecticut.

The broader calendar brought contrasting regional operations. In Canada, Thanksgiving Monday served as a statutory holiday resulting in closures across government offices, liquor and beer stores, and major grocery chains such as Costco, alongside modified hours for select independent locations, according to KawarthaNOW, Toronto.com, and Inside Halton. Conversely, financial markets in the United States maintained normal trading hours for Columbus Day. Coincentral reported that the New York Stock Exchange and Nasdaq operated regular sessions from 9:30 a.m. To 4 p.m. Eastern time, while bond markets closed.

Beyond sports and commerce, communities dealt with significant local developments. In Calgary, CityNews reported that the RCMP’s Major Crime Unit took over the investigation into the suspicious death of a teen on Siksika First Nation. In Ontario, The Star highlighted voter priorities ahead of the municipal election, where candidates including incumbent Olivia Chow and councillor Brad Bradford address key concerns regarding housing affordability, transit, and public safety.

For Minnesota Duluth, the focus returns to the ice as the program prepares for upcoming competition. The Bulldogs are set to face opponents including Michigan Tech and Maine as they work to integrate returning players and navigate the competitive landscape of college hockey.