MINOT STATE UNIVERSITY, DEFENDING MEN’S DIVISION I NATIONAL CHAMPIONS, STARTS ATOP AMERICAN COLLEGIATE HOCKEY ASSOCIATION PRESEASON RANKING FOR 2023-2024 SEASON
Beavers Also Won National Championships in 2013 and 2019
UNION LAKE, Mich. – (September 13, 2023) – Minot State University, the defending Men’s Division I National Champions of the American Collegiate Hockey Association, received 23 out of 28 first-place votes to come in as this year’s pick for the top spot in the 2023-2024 ACHA Men’s Division I Preseason Ranking. No. 2 Adrian College, Men’s Division I National Champions in both 2018 and 2021 and runners-up in 2023, received two first place votes while No. 3 Ohio University received the other three first place votes. Rounding out the Top 5 was No. 4 Liberty University and No. 5 University of Nevada-Las Vegas.
The Western Collegiate Hockey League leads the way with seven (of 10) of its member teams ranked, while the Eastern States Collegiate Hockey League has four (of 8) of its member teams ranked, Midwest College Hockey and Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference each have three (of 7) of its member teams ranked, and the Great Lakes Collegiate Hockey League has four (of 10) of its member teams ranked.
Over the past 20 seasons, 12 different schools have won the ACHA Men’s Division I National Championship: Lindenwood (4), Minot State (3), Adrian (2), Central Oklahoma (2), Illinois (2), Arizona State, Davenport, Delaware, Oakland, Ohio, Penn State, and Rhode Island.
Entering its 33rd season of action, there have been a total of 14 schools that have won the ACHA Men’s Division I National Championship:
- Penn State University (5 times)
- Lindenwood University (4)
- Ohio University (4)
- Minot State University (3)
- Adrian College (2)
- North Dakota State University (2)
- University Central Oklahoma (2)
- University of Illinois (2)
- Arizona State University
- Davenport University
- Iowa State University
- Oakland University
- University of Delaware
- University of Rhode Island
A total of 72 teams will compete in Men’s Division I this season, including University of Mary, which moves up from Men’s Division II after winning back-to-back National Championships in 2021 and 2022.
The computer ranking, which will not commence until November 1, will for the tenth time determine the 24 teams that qualify for the 2024 ACHA Men’s Division I National Championships, which will include the following eight auto bids:
- (CHMA) College Hockey Mid-America
- (ECHA) Eastern Collegiate Hockey Association
- (ESCHL) Eastern States Collegiate Hockey League
- (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 first ranking of the regular season will be released on Wednesday, October 11, 2023.
The 2024 ACHA Men’s Division I National Championships presented by FloHockey will be hosted March 7-12 for the second time at the Centene Community Ice Center in Maryland Heights, Mo. This will be the first year of the 24-team format.
| 2023-2024 ACHA Men’s Division I Preseason Ranking | ||||||
| Rank | School Name | 1st Votes | M1 Record | Pts | Previous | Conference |
| 1 | Minot State | 23 | 30-2-0 | 597 | 1 | INDEP |
| 2 | Adrian | 2 | 35-3-2 | 571 | 2 | GLCHL |
| 3 | Ohio | 3 | 30-6-2 | 546 | 3 | INDEP |
| 4 | Liberty | 17-11-2 | 529 | 4 | INDEP | |
| 5 | Nevada-Las Vegas | 25-4-1 | 509 | 5 | WCHL | |
| 6 | Central Oklahoma | 29-8-1 | 459 | 6 | WCHL | |
| 7 | Jamestown | 20-9-1 | 449 | 7 | MCH | |
| 8 | Indiana Tech | 32-4-2 | 425 | 8 | WHAC | |
| 9 | Maryville | 18-10-0 | 415 | 9 | INDEP | |
| 10 | Niagara | 23-9-2 | 370 | 10 | ESCHL | |
| 11 | Arizona | 16-10-4 | 353 | 11 | WCHL | |
| 12 | Pittsburgh | 22-8-3 | 313 | 12 | ESCHL | |
| 13 | Grand Valley State | 33-7-1 | 303 | 13 | GLCHL | |
| 14 | Calvin | 23-8-3 | 284 | 14 | GLCHL | |
| 15 | Illinois State | 28-7-2 | 266 | 15 | MCH | |
| 16 | Michigan-Dearborn | 23-12-2 | 208 | 16 | WHAC | |
| 17 | Lawrence Tech | 25-8-2 | 199 | 17 | WHAC | |
| 18 | Utah | 15-10-1 | 174 | 18 | WCHL | |
| 19 | Stony Brook | 17-11-4 | 171 | 19 | ESCHL | |
| 20 | Purdue Northwest | 20-7-1 | 121 | 20 | GLCHL | |
| 21 | Arizona State | 16-16-1 | 110 | 21 | WCHL | |
| 22 | Missouri State | 15-15-2 | 102 | 22 | WCHL | |
| 23 | Mary * | 29-5-1 * | 76 | NR | MCH | |
| 24 | Grand Canyon | 13-12-2 | 60 | 23 | WCHL | |
| 25 | Rhode Island | 25-9-2 | 56 | 24 | ESCHL | |
* = M2 Record
Others receiving votes: Indiana Pennsylvania, Colorado State, and Delaware.
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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 460 colleges and university-affiliated teams representing 48 states provides structure, regulates operations, and promotes the sport of Hockey nationwide. With approximately 13,000 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 33rd season in September 2023. For more information, visit achahockey.org.
