UNIVERSITY OF NEVADA-LAS VEGAS, DEFENDING AMERICAN COLLEGIATE HOCKEY ASSOCIATION MEN’S DIVISION I NATIONAL CHAMPIONS, STILL NO. 1 TEAM IN RANKING #2
Rebels Hoisted National Championship Banner Then Swept University of Utah
UNION LAKE, Mich. – (October 15, 2025) – University of Nevada-Las Vegas (2-0-0), the defending Men’s Division I National Champions of the American Collegiate Hockey Association, received 30 of 35 first-place votes to remain atop the 2025-2026 ACHA Men’s Division I Ranking #2. The Rebels swept conference rival University of Utah (3-1, 3-1) in the friendly confines of City National Arena. Mason Kelly had two goals and an assist on Friday night as the Rebels hoisted their 2025 ACHA Men’s Division I National Championship Banner to the rafters. Forwards Charles Masek and Dylan Jensen each had a pair of assists while goaltender Doug Wakelyn picked up both wins by stopping 39 of 41 shots on the weekend. The Rebels play this weekend at home against No. 10 Grand Canyon University at City National Arena.
No. 2 Adrian College (5-1-0), which received four first-place votes, and No. 4 Liberty University (8-1-0), which received the other first-place vote, split a pair of games at Arrington Ice Arena in Adrian, Mich. Friday night, the Bulldogs jumped out to a 4-0 lead en route to a 7-3 victory. Blake Wideman had the three-goal hat trick while Sebastian Smith chipped in a pair of goals and Justin Jame dished out a pair of assists. Goaltender Peyton Trzaska stopped 28 shots for the win. Saturday afternoon, the Flames raced out to a 3-0 lead as goaltender Nicolas Bernstein made 29 saves in a 6-2 victory and a series split. Michael Debrito (goal, two assists), Luke Munroe (two goals), Maguire Ratzlaff (goal, assist), and Nicholas Pomerlau (two assists) paced the Flames offensively.
No. 3 Minot State University (1-0-1) and No. 6 University of Jamestown (1-0-1) split a pair of games with the road team winning both nights. Friday night at Wilson Arena, the Beavers built a 3-1 lead on goals by Walker Jerome, Joey Moffatt, and Colby Joseph and held on for a 3-2 victory as goaltender Will Dyke stopped 24 of 26 shots for the win. Saturday night at Maysa Arena, the Jimmies jumped out to a 3-1 lead with only 10:56 remaining in regulation before a pair of power play goals by Christian Kadolph and Jay Buchholz sent the game into overtime. Not to be denied, Jimmies forward Brad Fortin scored the game-winner 3:18 into the extra session. The Beavers will host No. 8 Maryville University this weekend while the Jimmies hit the road to face McKendree University.
Rounding out the Top 5 was No. 5 Ohio University (6-0-0), which swept Maryville University (6-1, 3-1) on the road at the Maryville University Hockey Center, as goaltenders Scott Bird (Friday) and Garrett Alderman (Saturday) each stopped 31 of 32 shots for the wins. Laker Aldridge (goal, three assists), Luc Reeve (two goals, assist), Hollander Thompson (two goals, assist), and Noah Holt (three assists) controlled the Bobcats attack. The Bobcats will host No. 18 Grand Valley State University at Bird Arena this weekend.
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 third ranking of the regular season will be released on Wednesday, October 22, 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 #2 | ||||||
| Rank | School Name | 1st Votes | M1 Record | Pts | Previous | Conference |
| 1 | Nevada-Las Vegas | 30 | 2-0-0 | 771 | 1 | WCHL |
| 2 | Adrian | 4 | 5-1-0 | 732 | 2 | GL6 |
| 3 | Minot State | 1-0-1 | 698 | 3 | MCH | |
| 4 | Liberty | 1 | 8-1-0 | 689 | 4 | INDEP |
| 5 | Ohio | 6-0-0 | 668 | 5 | INDEP | |
| 6 | Jamestown | 5-1-0 | 623 | 6 | MCH | |
| 7 | Drury | 10-0-0 | 579 | 8 | INDEP | |
| 8 | Maryville | 5-2-0 | 562 | 7 | INDEP | |
| 9 | Niagara | 6-0-0 | 535 | 9 | INDEP | |
| 10 | Grand Canyon | 5-0-0 | 475 | 11 | WCHL | |
| 11 | Utah | 2-3-1 | 470 | 10 | WCHL | |
| 12 | Calvin | 1-0-1 | 424 | 12 | GL6 | |
| 13 | Arizona | 2-1-0 | 395 | 13 | WCHL | |
| 14 | Mary | 5-2-0 | 393 | 14 | MCH | |
| 15 | Pittsburgh | 2-1-1 | 317 | 16 | ACCHL | |
| 16 | Purdue Northwest | 1-3-0 | 314 | 15 | GL6 | |
| 17 | Oklahoma | 5-1-0 | 274 | 17 | WCHL | |
| 18 | Grand Valley State | 4-1-1 | 211 | 19 | GL6 | |
| 19 | Indiana Tech | 1-2-1 | 191 | 18 | WHAC | |
| 20 | West Chester | 4-1-0 | 159 | 21 | ECHA | |
| 21 | Oswego State | 2-4-2 | 127 | 20 | ACCHL | |
| 22 | Delaware | 4-3-1 | 86 | 23 | ACCHL | |
| 23 | Hope | 5-1-0 | 84 | 25 | GL6 | |
| 24 | Midland | 2-5-1 | 57 | 22 | MCH | |
| 25 | Arizona State | 2-3-0 | 40 | 24 | WCHL | |
Others receiving votes: Indiana Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Davenport, Kentucky, Stony Brook, Cleary, Illinois, North Carolina State, Drexel, Lehigh, and Northwood.
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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.
