Talk about a good week off.

The UAA hockey team used last week to rest and recuperate -- the Seawolves were idle for the first time this season -- yet jumped four places to secure the No. 15 ranking in the USCHO.com/CBS College Sports Poll released Monday.

And UAA wasn't the only Alaska crew to merit recognition. UAF debuted in the poll at No. 20.

The Seawolves, who are 7-5-2 overall and 4-4-2 in the Western Collegiate Hockey Association, burst into the rankings a week ago at No. 19 after splitting a home series with Colorado College, then ranked No. 3.

They travel to Wisconsin this week to face the unranked Badgers (7-7-2, 5-5-2 WCHA) and close out the first half of their schedule before the holiday break.

The Seawolves already have matched their win total from last season, when they went 7-21-8. And with 10 points in the league standings, the Seawolves sit sixth in the 10-team league, just two points out of third place. They are two points shy of their total last season.

UAF entered the poll after earning four points on home ice in a Central Collegiate Hockey Association series against Lake Superior State. The Nanooks (8-4-2 overall) won 4-1 on Friday and 2-1 in a shootout Saturday; Saturday's game goes down as a tie for NCAA purposes, but UAF gained the extra standings point by virtue of winning the shootout.

The CCHA, where UAF sits tied for third, is the only conference that uses a post-overtime shootout, which was introduced this season.

UAF leads the nation in team defense, surrendering just 1.36 goals per game.

Notre Dame (10-3-2) of the CCHA, which is backstopped by senior goaltender Jordan Pearce of Anchorage, moved into the No. 1 ranking this week. The Fighting Irish are followed by Boston College of Hockey East, Minnesota of the WCHA, Miami (Ohio) of the CCHA and Colorado College of the WCHA.

The poll released Monday includes several other Alaska connections.

Minnesota's head coach is Don Lucia, the former UAF head coach and former UAA assistant. Colorado College includes senior wing Eric Walsky of Anchorage and senior goalie Drew O'Connell of Anchorage.

Also, former UAF head coach Guy Gadowsky is the bench boss at No. 9-ranked Princeton. And Air Force, ranked No. 10, includes senior defenseman Michael Mayra of Anchorage.

Find Doyle Woody's blog at adn.com/hockeyblog or call him at 257-4335.

UAA hockey rankings since 1991

RANKINGPOLL RECORD DATE

15 USCHO.com/CBS College Sports 7-5-2 12-01-08

19 USCHO.com/CBS College Sports 7-5-2 11-24-08

20 USCHO.com/CSTV 3-0-1 10-22-07

15* USA Today/USA Hockey Magazine 3-3-2 11-13-06

15USCHO.com 5-2-1 11-08-04

11 NCAA 26-8-13-15-92

12 NCAA 26-8-1 3-08-92

15 NCAA 24-8-1 3-01-92

15 NCAA 23-5-1 2-10-92

14 NCAA 21-5-1 2-03-92

15 NCAA 19-5-1 1-27-92

12 NCAA 13-2-0 12-16-91

9 Albany Times Union 13-2-0 12-16-91

10 College Hockey USA 11-2-0 12-10-91

*Ranking questionable; voters or tabulators likely confused UAA with UAF.

SOURCES: UAA Sports Information Dept.; ADN Hockey poll

Top 20

MINNEAPOLIS -- The top 20 teams in the NCAA Division I men's ice hockey poll, compiled by U.S. College Hockey Online, with first-place votes in parentheses, records through Sunday and previous ranking:

Record Pts Pvs

1. Notre Dame (40) 10-3-2 961 2

2. Boston College (1) 9-4-1 886 5

3. Minnesota (2) 7-2-5 881 1

4. Miami (2) 8-3-3 773 6

5. Colorado College 9-4-3 732 3

6. Northeastern 10-3-2 717 4

7. Boston University (1) 9-4-0 707 8

8. Denver (1) 9-5-1 697 9

9. Princeton (2) 9-2-0 650 7

10. Air Force (1) 13-1-0 625 11

11. Minnesota State 8-3-3 531 10

12. Vermont 9-3-2 488 13

13. Cornell 5-1-2 414 12

14. Michigan 9-7-0 338 14

15. UAA 7-5-2 131 19

16. Dartmouth 6-4-0 124 20

17. Mass.-Lowell 8-5-0 123 --

18. Nebraska-Omaha 9-4-1 115 16

19. New Hampshire 5-6-3 113 15

20. UAF 8-4-2 85 --