UNIVERSITY OF NEVADA-LAS VEGAS, DEFENDING AMERICAN COLLEGIATE HOCKEY ASSOCIATION MEN’S DIVISION I NATIONAL CHAMPIONS, BEGIN SEASON ATOP RANKING #1
Rebels to Hoist National Championship Banner Friday Versus University of Utah
UNION LAKE, Mich. – (October 8, 2025) – University of Nevada-Las Vegas (0-0-0), the defending Men’s Division I National Champions of the American Collegiate Hockey Association, received 28 of 35 first-place votes to start the regular season atop the 2025-2026 ACHA Men’s Division I Ranking #1. The Rebels started their season with a pair of games against NCAA Division 1 opponents, losing on the road at University of Alaska-Anchorage (3-0) and University of Denver (6-1), a 2025 Frozen Four participant, and commence Men’s Division I play this weekend at home against No. 10 University of Utah at City National Arena.
No. 2 Adrian College (4-0-0), which received five first-place votes, started its season with four home games at Arrington Ice Arena and swept both Northwood University (5-2, 3-0) and University of Pittsburgh (4-3 OT, 3-0). The Bulldogs were paced offensively by Sebastian Smith (two goals, three assists), Dylan Gajewski (two goals, two assists), and NCAA Division III transfer Eli Reimer (two goals, two assists). The Bulldogs host No. 4 Liberty University this weekend.
No. 3 Minot State University (0-0-0), which received one first-place vote, started its season with three home games at Maysa Arena against Canadian competition, getting a 5-1 win over University of Regina and a sweep of Briercrest College (6-5, 3-2). The Beavers kick off Men’s Division I play this weekend in a home-and-home series against arch-rival No. 6 University of Jamestown.
No. 4 Liberty University (7-0-0), which received the other first-place vote, started the season with a road win (4-2) against North Carolina State University at the Wake Competition Center, then six consecutive home wins at LaHaye Ice Center over North Carolina State University (1-0 OT), University of North Carolina (6-1), University of Delaware (7-1, 5-3), and No. 10 University of Utah (8-2, 3-2 OT-SO). Ryan Finch has seven goals and three assists to lead the Flames offensively. The Flames travel to take on No. 2 Adrian College this weekend.
Rounding out the Top 5 was No. 5 Ohio University (4-0-0), which swept Oswego State University (5-0, 9-0) at Bird Arena and Purdue University Northwest (3-1, 1-0) on the road at the Kube Sports Complex to start the season. Luc Reeve is off to a hot start with five goals and three assists while Laker Aldridge has tallied two goals and three assists in four games. The Bobcats will travel to take on No. 7 Maryville University at the Maryville University Hockey Center this weekend.
Moving into the polls this week is No. 21 West Chester University and No. 25 Hope College, making its first appearance in the polls at the Men’s Division I level.
Dropping out of the Top 25 are Stony Brook University and University of Colorado.
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 six (of 11) of its member teams ranked, and Atlantic Coast Collegiate Hockey League, playing in its inaugural season at the Men’s Division 1 level, has three (of 10) 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 second ranking of the regular season will be released on Wednesday, October 15, 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 #1 | ||||||
| Rank | School Name | 1st Votes | M1 Record | Pts | Previous | Conference |
| 1 | Nevada-Las Vegas | 28 | 0-0-0 | 768 | 1 | WCHL |
| 2 | Adrian | 5 | 4-0-0 | 732 | 2 | GL6 |
| 3 | Minot State | 1 | 0-0-0 | 715 | 3 | MCH |
| 4 | Liberty | 1 | 7-0-0 | 684 | 4 | INDEP |
| 5 | Ohio | 4-0-0 | 655 | 5 | INDEP | |
| 6 | Jamestown | 4-0-0 | 621 | 6 | MCH | |
| 7 | Maryville | 5-0-0 | 587 | 7 | INDEP | |
| 8 | Drury | 8-0-0 | 554 | 9 | INDEP | |
| 9 | Niagara | 4-0-0 | 546 | 8 | INDEP | |
| 10 | Utah | 2-1-1 | 460 | 10 | WCHL | |
| 11 | Grand Canyon | 4-0-0 | 454 | 12 | WCHL | |
| 12 | Calvin | 0-0-0 | 429 | 11 | GL6 | |
| 13 | Arizona | 2-0-0 | 391 | 13 | WCHL | |
| 14 | Mary | 4-2-0 | 369 | 14 | MCH | |
| 15 | Purdue Northwest | 0-2-0 | 274 | 15 | GL6 | |
| 16 | Pittsburgh | 2-1-1 | 254 | 20 | ACCHL | |
| 17 | Oklahoma | 5-1-0 | 239 | 19 | WCHL | |
| 18 | Indiana Tech | 1-1-0 | 214 | 17 | WHAC | |
| 19 | Grand Valley State | 3-1-0 | 131 | 23 | GL6 | |
| 20 | Oswego State | 1-4-1 | 126 | 16 | ACCHL | |
| 21 | West Chester | 4-0-0 | 123 | NR | ECHA | |
| 22 | Midland | 1-5-0 | 112 | 18 | MCH | |
| 23 | Delaware | 3-3-0 | 98 | T 21 | ACCHL | |
| 24 | Arizona State | 0-3-0 | 75 | T 21 | WCHL | |
| 25 | Hope | 4-0-0 | 46 | NR | GL6 | |
Others receiving votes: Indiana Pennsylvania, Stony Brook, Kentucky, Illinois, Rhode Island, Cleary, Lehigh, Colorado, Drexel, North Carolina State, George Mason, Davenport, Villanova, Cincinnati, and Waldorf.
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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 enters its 35th season in September 2025. For more information, visit achahockey.org.
