UNIVERSITY OF NEVADA-LAS VEGAS, DEFENDING AMERICAN COLLEGIATE HOCKEY ASSOCIATION MEN’S DIVISION I NATIONAL CHAMPIONS, REMAINS NO. 1 TEAM IN RANKING #4
Rebels Still Perfect After Sweeping Arizona State University
UNION LAKE, Mich. – (October 29, 2025) – University of Nevada-Las Vegas (6-0-0), the defending Men’s Division I National Champions of the American Collegiate Hockey Association, received 27 of 32 first-place votes to remain atop the 2025-2026 ACHA Men’s Division I Ranking #4. The Rebels swept conference rival Arizona State University (4-3, 5-4 OT-SO 2-0) at Mountain America Community Iceplex in Tempe, Ariz. Wednesday night, the Sun Devils held a 2-1 lead after two periods until Dylan Jensen tied it just 2:00 into the third period. Matthew Gross restored the Sun Devils’ lead but Hayden Siegel tied it up at 3-3 only 1:47 later. With only 1:49 remaining in the third period, Oliver Band got the game-winning goal for a 4-3 Rebels victory. Thursday afternoon, the Rebels had a one-goal lead on four different occasions only to have the Sun Devils tie it up each time as regulation ended in a 4-4 deadlock. Neither team scored in overtime so it went into a shootout, where Charles Masek and Heath Mensch both scored as the Rebels won the shootout 2-0. Despite the two losses, Sun Devils goaltender Nate Glenn stopped 83 out of 91 shots in the series. The Rebels now head to North Dakota to face No. 2 Minot State University and then a pair of games against No. 6 University of Jamestown.
No. 2 Minot State University (5-0-1), which received two first-place votes, traveled to Sidner Ice Arena in Fremont, Neb., and swept Midland University (4-2, 4-3 OT). Friday night, the game was tied 1-1 after two periods before the Beavers scored three goals for a 4-2 triumph. Saturday, the Beavers led 3-0 in the third period before three unanswered goals tied it up at 3-3 and sent the game into overtime. However, it only took seventeen seconds for defenseman Logan Rands to end the game (4-3 OT) in favor of the Beavers. Colby Joseph (two goals, two assists), Jay Buchholz (goal, two assists), and Christian Kadolph (goal, two assists), paced the Beavers on offense, while Warrior’s goaltender Liam Tereposky stopped 75 of 83 shots in defeat.
No. 3 Ohio University (9-1-0), which received a first-place vote, and No. 4 Adrian College (7-2-1) split a pair of games with each team winning at home. Thursday night at Arrington Ice Arena in Adrian, Mich., the Bobcats jumped out to a 2-0 first period lead before a pair of power play goals by Cash Regan sandwiched around Matteo Turin’s goal put the Bulldogs in front 3-2 after two periods. The Bobcats pulled their goaltender late in the third period but were unable to get the equalizer as Bulldog Justin Jamer scored into the empty net for a 4-2 victory. Friday night back at Bird Arena in Athens, Ohio, goaltender Matt Zazon was sensational, making 42 saves for the 2-0 shutout victory, as Laker Aldridge and Drake Nabozy each scored a power play goal for the Bobcats. Bulldog goaltender Dylan Eliason was also spectacular, stopping 71 of 75 shots on goal for the weekend. The Bobcats host Illinois State University this weekend while the Bulldogs will host Saginaw Valley State University.
Rounding out the Top 5 is No. 5 Liberty University (10-1-0), which received a first-place vote. The Flames swept Stony Brook University (6-1, 8-3) at home in the friendly confines of LaHaye Ice Center. Leading the offensive onslaught for the Flames was Nicholas Pomerleau (five assists), Kal Essenmacher (two goals, two assists), Luke Monroe (two goals, assist), Tucker Shields (two goals, assist), Brad Barker (one goal, assist), Nathan Cox (three assists), and Sam Feamster (three assists). Seawolves goaltender Steven Reganato stopped 73 shots of 84 shots. The Flames hit the road this weekend to face Niagara University at Dwyer Arena.
The Great Lakes 6 Hockey Conference leads the way with five (of 7) of its member teams ranked, while Midwest College Hockey has four (of 7) of its member teams ranked, Western Collegiate Hockey League has five (of 11) of its member teams ranked, Atlantic Coast Collegiate Hockey League has three (of 10) of its member teams ranked, and Eastern Collegiate Hockey Association has two (of 11) of its member teams ranked.
Over the past 22 seasons, 13 different schools have won the ACHA Men’s Division I National Championship: Lindenwood (4), Minot State (3), Adrian (3), Central Oklahoma (2), Illinois (2), Arizona State, Davenport, Delaware, Nevada-Las Vegas, Oakland, Ohio, Penn State, and Rhode Island.
Now in its 35th season of action, there have been a total of 15 schools that have won the ACHA Men’s Division I National Championship:
- Penn State University (5 times)
- Lindenwood University (4)
- Ohio University (4)
- Adrian College (3)
- Minot State University (3)
- 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 Nevada-Las Vegas
- University of Rhode Island
A total of 81 teams will compete in Men’s Division I this season, including former Men’s Division II members Central Michigan University, North Carolina State University, University of Cincinnati, University of Kentucky, University of Louisville, and University of North Carolina, along with former Men’s Division III members Hope College, the reigning ACHA Men’s Division III National Champions, and University of Michigan-Flint. The Concordia University Ann Arbor program, which made the announcement to relocate to Siena Heights University back in April, folded in July before getting to play a game as the Saints.
The computer ranking, which will not commence until November 5, will for the twelfth time determine the 24 teams that qualify for the 2026 ACHA Men’s Division I National Championships, which will include the following six auto bids:
- (CHMA) College Hockey Mid-America
- (ECHA) Eastern Collegiate Hockey Association
- (GLCHL) Great Lakes Collegiate Hockey League
- (MCH) Midwest College Hockey
- (WCHL) Western Collegiate Hockey League
- (WHAC) Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference
The fifth ranking of the regular season will be released on Wednesday, November 5, 2025.
The 2026 ACHA Men’s Division I National Championships presented by FloHockey will be hosted March 12-17 for the fourth time at the Centene Community Ice Center in Maryland Heights, Mo. This will be the third year of the 24-team format.
| 2025-2026 ACHA Men’s Division I Ranking #4 | ||||||
| Rank | School Name | 1st Votes | M1 Record | Pts | Previous | Conference |
| 1 | Nevada-Las Vegas | 27 | 6-0-0 | 697 | 1 | WCHL |
| 2 | Minot State | 2 | 5-0-1 | 661 | 2 | MCH |
| 3 | Ohio | 1 | 9-1-0 | 649 | 3 | INDEP |
| 4 | Adrian | 7-2-1 | 609 | 4 | GL6 | |
| 5 | Liberty | 1 | 10-1-0 | 588 | 5 | INDEP |
| 6 | Jamestown | 7-1-0 | 559 | 6 | MCH | |
| 7 | Drury | 1 | 10-0-0 | 534 | 7 | INDEP |
| 8 | Niagara | 6-0-0 | 506 | 8 | INDEP | |
| 9 | Maryville | 5-4-0 | 445 | 9 | INDEP | |
| 10 | Calvin | 4-0-1 | 432 | 11 | GL6 | |
| 11 | Grand Canyon | 6-3-0 | 424 | 10 | WCHL | |
| 12 | Mary | 8-3-0 | 396 | 12 | MCH | |
| 13 | Utah | 5-4-1 | 346 | 13 | WCHL | |
| 14 | Pittsburgh | 6-1-1 | 330 | 15 | ACCHL | |
| 15 | Arizona | 5-2-0 | 323 | 14 | WCHL | |
| 16 | Oklahoma | 9-2-0 | 271 | 16 | WCHL | |
| 17 | Purdue Northwest | 6-4-0 | 239 | 17 | GL6 | |
| 18 | West Chester | 7-1-0 | 232 | 18 | ECHA | |
| 19 | Hope | 9-1-0 | 175 | 21 | GL6 | |
| 20 | Indiana Tech | 3-2-3 | 131 | 19 | WHAC | |
| 21 | Grand Valley State | 5-4-2 | 127 | 20 | GL6 | |
| 22 | Delaware | 5-4-1 | 83 | 22 | ACCHL | |
| 23 | Rhode Island | 8-2-0 | 64 | 24 | ECHA | |
| 24 | Oswego State | 2-6-2 | 41 | 23 | ACCHL | |
| 25 | Midland | 2-6-2 | 31 | 25 | MCH | |
Others receiving votes: Arizona State, Cleary, Kentucky, Drexel, Indiana Pennsylvania, Davenport, George Mason, Stony Brook, Cincinnati, Illinois, and North Carolina 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 35th season in September 2025. For more information, visit achahockey.org.
