DRURY UNIVERSITY REMAINS NO. 1 TEAM IN AMERICAN COLLEGIATE HOCKEY ASSOCIATION MEN’S DIVISION I RANKING #6
Panthers Sweep Illinois State University on the Road
UNION LAKE, Mich. – (November 11, 2026) – Drury University (12-1-0) remains in the top spot of 2026-2027 ACHA Men’s Division I Ranking #6 after sweeping Illinois State University (15-1, 7-2) on the road at the Bloomington Ice Center. The Panthers outscored the Redbirds 22-3 in the two games, were 8 for 11 on the power play (72.7%), and tallied four power play goals in each contest. Leading the Panthers scoring attack were five players that combined for 34 points on the weekend, including Kevin Thomas Walters (two goals, seven assists), Luke Aston (goal, six assists), Luke Davies (five goals, assist), Jeff Patola (three goals, three assists), and Lukas Ravenstein (two goals, four assists).
No. 2 Ohio University (9-3-0) played Men’s Division II Oklahoma State University and were swept at home in the friendly confines of Bird Arena (3-2, 3-1). The Bobcats outshot the Cowboys both nights, but goaltender Dmytro Kubrytskyi was up to the task making 34 saves on Friday night and 32 saves on Saturday night, including stuffing a potential game-tying penalty shot by Laker Aldridge with 8:33 remaining in the third period. Luc Reeve scored both nights, one on the power play, bringing his season total to 11 goals in only 10 games played, while Nolan Abraham scored the other Bobcat goal, also with the man advantage.
No. 3 University of Nevada-Las Vegas (12-0-0) held Arizona State University scoreless both nights as the Rebels swept a pair of midweek conference home games at City National Arena (4-0, 4-0). Tuesday night, leading 1-0 after two periods of play on a goal by Zachary Boren, the Rebels broke it open in the third period with three goals in a span of 9:05, including a pair of goals from Bryce Johnson and Dylan Jensen’s first goal of the season. Sun Devils goaltender Alexander Wendt blocked 48 saves in defeat while Liam Choquette stopped 22 shots for the shutout. Wednesday night, Shaun Rios and Mason Kelly scored goals late in the first period to stake the Rebels to a 2-0 lead after one period. After a scoreless second period followed by another 15:26 of a scoreless third period, Charles Masek put the game out of reach with a power play goal while Alex Lunski added an insurance goal for the 4-0 victory. Sun Devils goaltender Hayden Manning turned aside 52 shots in a losing effort while counterpart Owen Zenone made 16 saves for the shutout.
No. 4 Minot State University (10-2-3) and No. 5 Niagara University (9-2-2) split a pair of games at Maysa Arena in Minot, N.D. Friday night, defenseman Matthew Yakubowski scored just 2:33 into the game as the Beavers led 1-0 after the first period. Cayden Glover tied it for the Purple Eagles with a power play goal at the 7:24 mark of the second period. Neither team scored the final 33:36 of regulation sending the game into overtime. After a bench minor for too many men on the ice against the Purple Eagles, Yakubowski netted his second goal of the game on the power play for the game winning goal. Will Dyke got win in goal making 24 saves while counterpart Jacob Dubinsky finished with 25 saves. Saturday night, both teams scored power play goals in the first 3:04 of action, Trenton Curtis for the Beavers and Aiden Kalin for the Purple Eagles. After 46:45 of scoreless action, Carson Durnin put the Purple Eagles up 2-1 with a power play goal with 9:11 remaining in regulation. Peter Spameni iced the game with an empty net goal as the Purple Eagles headed out of town with a 3-1 triumph. Dubinsky got the win making 19 saves while Dyke took the loss turning aside 27 shots on goal.
Rounding out the Top 5 this week is the aforementioned Niagara University.
Moving into the polls this week are No. 20 Syracuse University and No. 25 University of Illinois.
Dropping out of the Top 25 are Hope College and University of Pittsburgh.
The Western Collegiate Hockey League (WCHL) leads the way with six (of 10) of its member teams ranked, Midwest College Hockey (MCH) has three (of 5) of its member teams ranked, Great Lakes 6 Hockey Conference (GL6) has four (of 7) of its member teams ranked, Atlantic Coast Collegiate Hockey League (ACCHL) has two (of 6) of its member teams ranked, South East Conference Hockey League (SECHL) has one (of 6) of its member teams ranked, Great Lakes Collegiate Hockey League (GLCHL) has one (of 8) of its member teams ranked, and Eastern Collegiate Hockey Association (ECHA) has one (of 11) of its member teams ranked.
Over the past 23 seasons, 13 different schools have won the ACHA Men’s Division I National Championship: Lindenwood (4), Adrian (3), Minot State (3), Central Oklahoma (2), Illinois (2), Ohio (2) Arizona State, Davenport, Delaware, Nevada-Las Vegas, Oakland, Penn State, and Rhode Island.
Now in its 36th season of action, there have been a total of 15 schools that have won the ACHA Men’s Division I National Championship:
- Ohio University (5 times – 2026, 2004, 1997, 1996, 1995)
- Penn State University (5 – 2003, 2002, 2001, 2000, 1998)
- Lindenwood University (4 – 2022, 2016, 2010, 2009)
- Adrian College (3 – 2024, 2021, 2018)
- Minot State University (3 – 2023, 2019, 2013)
- University Central Oklahoma (2 – 2017, 2015)
- University of Illinois (2 – 2008, 2005)
- North Dakota State University (2 – 1994, 1993)
- University of Nevada-Las Vegas (2025)
- Arizona State University (2014)
- University of Delaware (2012)
- Davenport University (2011)
- Oakland University (2007)
- University of Rhode Island (2006)
- Iowa State University (1992)
A total of 81 teams will compete in Men’s Division I this season, including former Men’s Division II members Farmingdale State College and Sacred Heart University. The University at Buffalo program will compete in Men’s Division II this season while the Men’s Division I team at George Mason University team has folded.
The computer ranking will for the thirteenth time determine the 24 teams that qualify for the 2027 ACHA Men’s Division I National Championships, which will include the following nine (9) auto bids:
- (ACCHL) Atlantic Coast College Hockey League
- (CHMA) College Hockey Mid-America
- (ECHA) Eastern Collegiate Hockey Association
- (GL6) Great Lakes Six Hockey Conference
- (GLCHL) Great Lakes Collegiate Hockey League
- (MCH) Midwest College Hockey
- (NECHL) Northeast Collegiate Hockey League
- (WCHL) Western Collegiate Hockey League
- (WHAC) Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference
The seventh ranking of the regular season will be released on Wednesday, November 18, 2026.
The 2027 ACHA Men’s Division I National Championships presented by Flo Hockey will be hosted March 11-16 for the fifth time at the Centene Community Ice Center in Maryland Heights, Mo. This will be the fourth year of the 24-team format.
| 2026-2027 ACHA Men’s Division I Ranking #6 | |||||
| Rank | School Name | M1 Record | Previous | Trend | Conference |
| 1 | Drury | 12-1-0 | 1 | ― | INDEP |
| 2 | Ohio | 9-3-0 | 3 | ↑1 | INDEP |
| 3 | Nevada-Las Vegas | 12-0-0 | 4 | ↑1 | WCHL |
| 4 | Minot State | 10-2-3 | 2 | ↓2 | INDEP |
| 5 | Niagara | 9-2-2 | 5 | ― | ACCHL |
| 6 | Liberty | 9-3-0 | 6 | ― | INDEP |
| 7 | Adrian | 11-3-0 | 10 | ↑3 | GL6 |
| 8 | Jamestown | 7-2-1 | 8 | ― | MCH |
| 9 | Maryville | 7-3-0 | 9 | ― | INDEP |
| 10 | Mary | 7-4-0 | 7 | ↓3 | MCH |
| 11 | Calvin | 10-1-0 | 15 | ↑4 | GL6 |
| 12 | Utah | 6-4-1 | 13 | ↑1 | WCHL |
| 13 | West Chester | 12-1-1 | 14 | ↑1 | ECHA |
| 14 | Midland | 4-5-1 | 12 | ↓2 | MCH |
| 15 | Kentucky | 11-3-0 | 11 | ↓4 | SECHL |
| 16 | Purdue Northwest | 7-1-0 | 16 | ― | GL6 |
| 17 | Davenport | 10-3-2 | 17 | ― | GL6 |
| 18 | Arizona | 4-3-2 | 25 | ↑7 | WCHL |
| 19 | Northwood | 12-3-1 | 19 | ― | GLCHL |
| 20 | Syracuse | 8-5-1 | NR | ↑6 | ACCHL |
| 21 | Colorado State | 6-2-0 | 20 | ↓1 | WCHL |
| 22 | Missouri State | 10-5-0 | 21 | ↓1 | WCHL |
| 23 | Arizona State | 6-8-0 | 18 | ↓5 | WCHL |
| 24 | Illinois State | 9-8-0 | 22 | ↓2 | INDEP |
| 25 | Illinois | 8-3-1 | NR | ↑1 | INDEP |
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About American Collegiate Hockey Association
The American Collegiate Hockey Association (ACHA) was founded in 1991 and is the national association for Non-NCAA Collegiate Hockey throughout the United States. Our organization of more than 560 colleges and university-affiliated teams representing 48 states provides structure, regulates operations, and promotes the sport of Hockey nationwide. With approximately 16,000 players and coaches as well as countless volunteers and game officials, the ACHA has experienced tremendous growth over the past decade and continues to be a viable option for college-bound student-athletes to continue playing competitive hockey nationwide. Headquartered in Troy, Michigan, the ACHA’s primary mission is to support the growth of Collegiate Hockey while emphasizing academic performance, personal development, and opportunities for regional, national, and international competition. The ACHA identifies standards which serve to unite and regulate teams at the collegiate level and entered its 36th season in September 2026. For more information, visit achahockey.org.
