We have movement, people. While these power rankings have been dominated by Michigan and Michigan State all season, another Big Ten school – and one player in particular – made a big statement on the weekend. Penn State swept Wisconsin, beating a very good opponent on the road twice. And for a draft prospect writer such as myself, the fact left winger Gavin McKenna netted four goals in the series (including a hat trick in the first game) was also crucial information.
McKenna, of course, came into the year as the No. 1 prospect for the 2026 NHL draft. But because of that, he’s also the one whose game is picked on the most by pundits, fans and other observers. Great performances by Sweden’s Ivar Stenberg at the world juniors also enter into the conversation, though McKenna was very good for Canada, too.
Has McKenna hit another gear now? It’s all very interesting information to take in down the stretch.
1. Michigan State Spartans (19-5-0)
With a sweep over Minnesota, the Spartans continue their march in the Big Ten. Ryker Lee (NSH) has looked particularly dangerous of late, while Charlie Stramel (MIN) has been the team’s top scorer for much of the campaign. Trey Augustine (DET) has a .938 save percentage in net.
2. Michigan Wolverines (20-4-0)
The Maize and Blue were idle this weekend, but we can’t ding them too much for that. Michigan is still a powerhouse and a favorite to win it all. They’ve got Ohio State next, a team they pounded in November. Nick Moldenhauer (TOR) has provided nice secondary scoring and has five points in his past four games.
3. North Dakota Fighting Hawks (20-6-0)
Another team to keep an eye on as we look ahead to the Frozen Four in Las Vegas, North Dakota has been on an absolute heater of late. They’ve scored five goals or more in four of the past five games, including in the weekend sweep of Arizona State. Defenseman Keaton Verhoeff (2026 draft) is up to an eye-opening 17 points in 22 games.
4. Penn State Nittany Lions (18-6-0)
Speaking of the draft, McKenna is now tied for the team lead with 29 points and the Nittany Lions have won seven in a row. Sweeping the Badgers was impressive and everyone is chipping in. Goalie Kevin Reidler (OTT) has won five straight decisions, while Aiden Fink (NSH) has 20 points in 17 games.
5. Western Michigan Broncos (18-6-0)
A big sweep over Minnesota-Duluth has Western Michigan flying high and the Broncos have now won nine in a row. Interestingly enough, Zaccharya Wisdom (SEA) is on an eight-game point streak himself. Hampton Slukynsky (LA) has played every game in net for the squad this season.
6. Providence College Friars (15-7-2)
With sweeps over Boston University and Boston College, the Friars made out like bandits in Massachusetts the past two weekends. The Friars have a balanced offensive attack with Roger McQueen (ANA), Logan Sawyer (MTL) and John Mustard (CHI) up top – and no one on the team averaging a point per game.
7. Quinnipiac Bobcats (19-5-2)
The Bobcats’ stellar run came to an end at the hands of UConn on the weekend, but it is but one blemish for a team really hitting on all cylinders of late. Ethan Wyttenbach (CGY) continues his grand freshman campaign with a team-high 36 points in 26 games, while Chris Pelosi (BOS) is now second with 26 points himself.
8. Cornell Big Red (14-5-0)
Cornell’s only loss this month came at the hands of Quinnipiac and the Big Red is coming off a pair of nice victories over Dartmouth and Harvard. Jonathan Castagna (UTA) is now leading the team in scoring with 20 points in 19 games, while Alexis Cournoyer (MTL) has been superb in net with a .925 save percentage.
9. Connecticut Huskies (15-7-3)
UConn has been interesting all year, but beating Quinnipiac on the weekend really says something. Jake Richard (BUF) and Joey Muldowney (SJ) aren’t putting up the gaudy numbers they did last year, but they are still two of the Huskies’ top scorers.
10. Minnesota-Duluth Bulldogs (17-9-0)
They’ve lost three of four, but the Dawgs have a couple of critical series coming up that could define their second half. Denver and North Dakota are their next two opponents and getting at least a split would prove Duluth’s mettle. Winning at least three of those games would be a statement.
