OHIO UNIVERSITY, DEFENDING AMERICAN COLLEGIATE HOCKEY ASSOCIATION MEN’S DIVISION I NATIONAL CHAMPIONS, ATOP RANKING #2 AFTER SWEEPING MARYVILLE UNIVERSITY ON THE ROAD
Undefeated Bobcats (6-0-0) Capture 12th Straight Victory
UNION LAKE, Mich. – (October 14, 2026) – Ohio University (6-0-0), the defending Men’s Division I National Champions of the American Collegiate Hockey Association, received 33 of 35 first-place votes to remain atop the 2026-2027 ACHA Men’s Division I Ranking #2. The Bobcats hit the road and swept Maryville University (3-1, 5-2) at the Maryville University Hockey Center in Chesterfield, Mo. Friday night, Laker Aldridge and Luc Reeve each had a goal and an assist to stake the Bobcats to a 2-0 lead after one period. Defenseman Justin Vandermeer pulled the Saints within a goal at the 5:55 mark of the third period but were unable to capitalize on a late power play chance with the goaltender pulled and Gavin Keller sealed the deal with an empty net goal for the final margin of victory. Matt Zazon got the win by making 22 saves while counterpart Thomas Samborski turned aside 28 of the 30 shots in his direction. Saturday evening, after a scoreless first period, the Bobcats jumped out to a 2-0 lead and held a 2-1 lead heading into the last minute of the period before a pair of goals just 0:18 apart pushed the lead to 4-1 after two periods of play. The third power play goal of the night finished off the Saints in a 5-2 defeat. Reeve had two more goals to go along with an assist while Breyden Zupsansky finished with a goal and four assists on the weekend. Scott Bird made 22 saves for the win while Samborski took the loss again.
No. 2 Adrian College (6-0-0), which received one first-place vote, swept conference foe Roosevelt University in a home-and-home series, winning 4-0 at home on Friday night and 5-1 on the road on Saturday afternoon. Caleb Minns (3 assists), Blake Wideman (2 goals, assist), Luke Marley (2 goals), Keegan Decaluwe (goal, assist), Griffin Zaske (goal, assist), and Noel Englot (2 assists) paced the Bulldogs attack while Lakers goaltender Harber Cassel stopped 102 of the 111 shots he faced.
No. 3 University of Nevada-Las Vegas (4-0-0) swept a pair of home games at City National Arena over San Diego State University (3-2, 12-1). Friday night, goaltender Brody Hsiao tried to steal the game by making 58 saves as the Aztecs led the Rebels 2-1 past the halfway mark of the second period. Not to be denied, Alex Lunski tied it 2-2 after two periods before Oliver Band netted the game-winner at the 7:49 mark of the third period for the 3-2 victory. Saturday night, the Rebels broke open a tight game by scoring four times in the second period and seven times in the third period. Defenseman Deven Nagra had a three-goal hat trick, Bryce Johnson had a pair of goals, Charles Masek and Luke Backel each tallied a goal and three assists, while Gaige Giblin and Easton Edwards registered a goal and two assists.
In a pair of non-ACHA games, No. 4 Minot State University (4-0-1) swept Briercrest College (4-1, 4-1) from Caronport, Saskatchewan at the Maysa Arena. The Beavers will be back in action this week with a pair of home-and-home games against No. 9 University of Jamestown and a road game on Saturday night against No. 11 University of Mary.
Rounding out the Top 5 was No. 5 Niagara University (5-0-0), which received the other first-place vote. The Purple Eagles shutout crosstown rival Canisius University 7-0 with seven different players netting goals: Cody Gudnason, Chase Christensen, Aiden Kalin, Jacob Cossette, Adam Racine, Adam Sojka, and Carson Durnin.
Moving into the polls this week is No. 25 University of Kentucky while Grand Valley State University drops out.
The Great Lakes 6 Hockey Conference (GL6) leads the way with five (of 7) of its member teams ranked, while Midwest College Hockey (MCH) has three (of 5) of its member teams ranked, Western Collegiate Hockey League (WCHL) has five (of 10) of its member teams ranked, Atlantic Coast Collegiate Hockey League (ACCHL) has two (of 6) of its member teams ranked, College Hockey Mid-America (CHMA) has two (of 7) 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, which will not commence until November 4, 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 third ranking of the regular season will be released on Wednesday, October 21, 2026.
The 2027 ACHA Men’s Division I National Championships presented by FloHockey 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 #2 | |||||||
| Rank | School Name | 1st Votes | M1 Record | Pts | Previous | Conference | Trend |
| 1 | Ohio | 33 | 6-0-0 | 775 | 1 | INDEP | ― |
| 2 | Adrian | 1 | 6-0-0 | 737 | 2 | GL6 | ― |
| 3 | Nevada-Las Vegas | 4-0-0 | 692 | 3 | WCHL | ― | |
| 4 | Minot State | 4-0-1 | 675 | 4 | INDEP | ― | |
| 5 | Niagara | 1 | 5-0-0 | 664 | 5 | ACCHL | ― |
| 6 | Liberty | 6-0-0 | 604 | 7 | INDEP | ↑1 | |
| 7 | Drury | 6-1-0 | 588 | 8 | INDEP | ↑1 | |
| 8 | Calvin | 3-1-0 | 546 | 6 | GL6 | ↓2 | |
| 9 | Jamestown | 3-1-0 | 529 | 9 | MCH | ― | |
| 10 | Utah | 5-0-0 | 488 | 11 | WCHL | ↑1 | |
| 11 | Mary | 3-2-0 | 477 | 10 | MCH | ↓1 | |
| 12 | Maryville | 2-3-0 | 381 | 12 | INDEP | ― | |
| 13 | Grand Canyon | 3-2-0 | 372 | 13 | WCHL | ― | |
| 14 | Purdue Northwest | 3-1-0 | 358 | 14 | GL6 | ― | |
| 15 | Hope | 4-2-0 | 282 | 15 | GL6 | ― | |
| 16 | West Chester | 5-1-0 | 264 | 18 | ECHA | ↑2 | |
| 17 | Northwood | 5-2-1 | 233 | 20 | GLCHL | ↑3 | |
| 18 | Davenport | 7-1-1 | 224 | 21 | GL6 | ↑3 | |
| 19 | Indiana Pennsylvania | 5-2-0 | 223 | 19 | CHMA | ― | |
| 20 | Arizona | 0-2-1 | 222 | 16 | WCHL | ↓4 | |
| 21 | Missouri State | 4-3-0 | 217 | 17 | WCHL | ↓4 | |
| 22 | John Carroll | 5-3-0 | 101 | 25 | CHMA | ↑3 | |
| 23 | Midland | 2-2-0 | 84 | 22 | MCH | ↓1 | |
| 24 | Stony Brook | 1-1-1 | 44 | 23 | ACCHL | ↓1 | |
| 25 | Kentucky | 8-2-0 | 37 | NR | SECHL | ↑1 | |
Others receiving votes: Rhode Island, Indiana Tech, Oregon, Illinois, Grand Valley State, Drexel, Oswego State, Illinois State, Western Michigan, New York, Cleary, Villanova, and Farmingdale State.
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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.
