The 2010-11 USA Today/USA Hockey Magazine men’s hockey preseason rankings are out and the Wisconsin Badger men’s hockey team finds itself at No. 13.
Wisconsin is one of six WCHA teams ranked among the nation’s top 15, which is the most out of any conference. The Badgers are one spot in front of No. 14 Boston University, who the Badgers open the season against in St. Louis on Oct. 8.
Defending NCAA national champion Boston College claimed the top spot, earning 28 out of 34 possible first place votes. WCHA member North Dakota, who earned four first-place votes, followed in second place.
Other ranked WCHA schools include No. 6 St. Cloud State, No. 9 Minnesota-Duluth, No. 11 Denver, No. 15 Minnesota.
The Badgers finished last season ranked No. 2 after posting a 28-11-14 record and finishing as the NCAA runner-up. UW lost 11 players from last year’s squad, replacing them with 10 new freshmen.
To view the entire poll, visit www.usahockey.com