I would have concur with your assessment Stack that the WCHA appears to be down overall this year.
That's why I had to chuckle when I read this analysis today:
"So we are to believe that Cornell and Princeton are better hockey teams than Denver University. I am going to say Barbara Streisand. Give me a break with that ranking. I want what the posters are smoking because I want some of that. Miami loses to two of the worst teams in Division one hockey and hardly falls, The BADgers lose two games to a crappy NMU team and they still stay in the poll. Minnesota State wins a game against UNO and all they get are votes. "
The fact of the matter is the same people who claim that polls mean nothing are the same ones complaining about them. Perhaps, this individual thought we should have ranked after sweeping powerhouse Bemidji State.