MINOT STATE UNIVERSITY IDLE BUT STILL ON TOP IN AMERICAN COLLEGIATE HOCKEY ASSOCIATION RANKING #6
Beavers have held Top Spot for Twenty Consecutive Polls
UNION LAKE, Mich. – (November 15, 2023) – Minot State University (11-1-0), the defending Men’s Division I National Champions of the American Collegiate Hockey Association, for the 20th consecutive poll, remains atop the 2023-2024 ACHA Men’s Division I Ranking #6. The Beavers were idle this past weekend but will partake in the Chicago Showcase at Canlan Sports-Romeoville this weekend along with No. 4 University of Nevada-Las Vegas, No. 11 Ohio University, No. 17 Arizona State University, No. 25 Illinois State University, University of Rhode Island, University of Alabama, and Northern Illinois University. No. 2 University of Central Oklahoma (13-1-0) swept a pair of conference home games at Arctic Edge Ice Arena against Missouri State University (3-0, 8-4). Friday night, Cash Regan had a goal and two assists, Vitalii Mikhailov had the game-winner to go with an assist, and Artem Lantukh kicked aside 20 shots for the shutout victory. Saturday night, Sam Sykes (two goals, two assists), Davin Burton (goal, two assists), Adam Stalzer (two goals), and Ondrej Blaha (goal and an assist) paced the scoring attack while J.C. Dubecky and Cash Regan each dished out two helpers as the Bronchos broomed the Bears out of town. No. 3 Adrian College (12-2-0) swept a pair of home games at Arrington Ice Arena by identical 5-2 scores against Niagara University. Thursday night, Sebastian Smith had 2 goals and an assist, Matteo DiGiulio dished out three helpers, and Noah Decottignies turned aside 24 shots. Friday afternoon, it was more of the same trio as Smith and DiGiulio each had a goal and assist while Decottignies blocked 32 shots. Charlie Belanger had 3 goals and an assist on the weekend to pace the Purple Eagles. No. 4 University of Nevada-Las Vegas was idle while University of Mary rounds out the Top 5 after sweeping a pair of conference home games at the Starion Sports Complex against Waldorf University (7-2, 6-2). Johnny Witzke (three goals, three assists), Tanner Eskro (goal, four assists), Jaren Hugelen and Seth Cushing (three goals, assist), and Isaiah Thomas (four assists) paced the Marauders attack as they pumped 131 shots on Warrior goaltenders Gage Reimer (63 saves) and Jordan Berschiminsky (55 saves) over the weekend.
Moving into the polls this week is No. 23 Stony Brook University and No. 24 West Chester University.
Dropping out of the Top 25 are Colorado State University and New York University.
The Western Collegiate Hockey League leads the way with six (of 10) of its member teams ranked, while Great Lakes Collegiate Hockey League has five (of 10) of its member teams ranked, Midwest College Hockey has three (of 7) of its member teams ranked, Eastern States Collegiate Hockey League has three (of 8) of its member teams ranked, and Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference has two (of 7) of its member teams ranked.
The ACHA uses two computer rankings generated by USHSHO.com, Ranking A (Wins with Maximum Goal Differential of 7) and Ranking B (Wins with Maximum Goal Differential of 1), to come up with an average of the two rankings. The ACHA will then use the list generated from the average for its weekly ranking. Ties will be broken using the higher ranked team from Ranking B until the Top 25 teams are listed. All games that go to overtime will be scored as ties in the computer ranking.
Over the past 20 seasons, 12 different schools have won the ACHA Men’s Division I National Championship: Lindenwood University (4), Minot State University (3), Adrian College (2), University of Central Oklahoma (2), University of Illinois (2), Arizona State University, Davenport University, University of Delaware, Oakland University, Ohio University, Penn State University, and University of Rhode Island.
Now in 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 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 seventh ranking of the regular season will be released on Wednesday, November 22, 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 Ranking #6 | ||||
| Rank | School Name | M1 Record | Previous | Conference |
| 1 | Minot State | 11-1-0 | 1 | INDEP |
| 2 | Central Oklahoma | 13-1-0 | 2 | WCHL |
| 3 | Adrian | 12-2-0 | 5 | GLCHL |
| 4 | Nevada-Las Vegas | 11-1-0 | 4 | WCHL |
| 5 | Mary | 8-3-1 | 3 | MCH |
| 6 | Niagara | 10-4-0 | 7 | ESCHL |
| 7 | Jamestown | 10-3-0 | 6 | MCH |
| 8 | Liberty | 9-6-1 | 10 | INDEP |
| 9 | Maryville | 8-6-1 | 13 | INDEP |
| 10 | Arizona | 6-4-1 | 11 | WCHL |
| 11 | Ohio | 7-5-2 | 12 | INDEP |
| 12 | Indiana Tech | 11-3-1 | 9 | WHAC |
| 13 | Purdue Northwest | 10-5-0 | 20 | GLCHL |
| 14 | Grand Valley State | 8-3-2 | 8 | GLCHL |
| 15 | Michigan-Dearborn | 13-0-0 | 17 | WHAC |
| 16 | Calvin | 12-3-1 | 16 | GLCHL |
| 17 | Arizona State | 7-5-1 | 24 | WCHL |
| 18 | Pittsburgh | 11-5-1 | 25 | ESCHL |
| 19 | Iowa State | 4-1-0 | 14 | INDEP |
| 20 | Missouri State | 7-7-1 | 15 | WCHL |
| 21 | Utah | 6-6-1 | 21 | WCHL |
| 22 | Davenport | 11-3-0 | 18 | GLCHL |
| 23 | Stony Brook | 4-5-1 | NR | ESCHL |
| 24 | West Chester | 11-3-0 | NR | ECHA |
| 25 | Illinois State | 11-7-0 | 22 | MCH |
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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.
