Fresh off a home-ice split with Notre Dame (ranked No. 8 in both national polls), UAF leaped to a No. 9 ranking in both Division I national polls released today.

The Nanooks (6-1-1, 3-1-0 CCHA, third place) leaped to No. 9 from No. 14 in the USA Today/USA Hockey Magazine Poll, and rose to No. 9 from No. 13 in the USCHO.com/CSTV Poll. (For what it's worth, off the top of my balding head, I don't remember a higher ranking for UAF).

UAF rebounded Saturday with a 3-1 win over the Irish after falling for the first time all season, 3-2 to Notre Dame, on Friday.

Of course, all eight of the Nanooks' games have been played in Alaska, including six at the Carlson Center in Fairbanks. UAF finally hits the road this week, and its upcoming schedule, despite three of the next four series on the road, is as appealing as possible.

The Nanooks travel to last-place Bowling Green this week. The week after takes them to Lake Superior State, currently 10th in the 12-team CCHA. After that, they entertain Northern Michigan, currently 11th-place, and then travel to Western Michigan, currently ninth-place. Hmmm -- four straight series against the four bottom feeders in the conference.

By the way, UAA's split with visiting Denver -- the Seawolves pounded the Pioneers 7-3 on Saturday -- didn't do much damage to the Pioneers. DU fell to No. 4 from No. 2 in the USCHO poll and remained No. 3 in the USA Today poll.