UNIVERSITY OF NEVADA-LAS VEGAS TAKES OVER TOP SPOT IN AMERICAN COLLEGIATE HOCKEY ASSOCIATION MEN’S DIVISION I RANKING FOR FIRST TIME IN TEAM HISTORY
Rebels Moved Up to Men’s Division I in 2017-2018 Season
UNION LAKE, Mich. – (October 12, 2022) – University of Nevada-Las Vegas (3-0-0) received 11 out of 35 first-place votes to move into the top spot of the 2022-2023 ACHA Men’s Division I Ranking #1. The Rebels, which made the move to Men’s Division I for the 2017-2018 season, have reached the pinnacle spot for the first time in team history after defeating University of Central Oklahoma 5-2 in Denver, CO, and sweeping University of Utah (3-2, 6-2). No. 2 Minot State University (4-0-0), Men’s Division I National Champions in both 2013 and 2019, received 12 first-place votes and swept both University of Jamestown (4-3, 6-1) and Liberty University (4-2, 2-1). No. 3 Adrian College (4-0-0), Men’s Division I National Champions in both 2018 and 2021, received six first-place votes after wins over Roosevelt University (11-0, 13-0), University of Michigan-Dearborn (3-2), and Grand Valley State University (7-1). Preseason No. 1 University of Central Oklahoma (5-2-0), the Men’s Division I National Champions in both 2015 and 2017 and Runners-Up in 2022, dropped three spots and received four first-place votes while Liberty University (3-2-0) held pat at No. 5. Stony Brook University (4-0-0) received the other two first-place votes after sweeping in-state rivals Syracuse University (9-1, 6-5) and New York University (5-2, 3-2).
The Central States Collegiate Hockey League leads the way with three (of 3) of its member teams ranked, while the Eastern States Collegiate Hockey League has six (of 8) of its member teams ranked, the Western Collegiate Hockey League has six (of 10) of its member teams ranked, and the Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference has four (of 7) of its member teams ranked.
Over the past 19 seasons, 12 different schools have won the ACHA Men’s Division I National Championship: Lindenwood (4), Central Oklahoma (2), Illinois (2), Minot State (2), Adrian (2), Arizona State, Davenport, Delaware, Oakland, Ohio, Penn State, and Rhode Island.
Entering its 32nd 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)
- Adrian College (2)
- Minot State University (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 70 teams will compete in Men’s Division I this season, including these new members: College of New Jersey, University of Oregon, Purdue University Northwest, and San Diego State University. The defending Men’s Division I National Champions of the American Collegiate Hockey Association, Lindenwood University, has departed to play NCAA Men’s Division I while Iowa State University is on a school suspension for the 2022-23 season.
The computer ranking, which will not commence until after November 1, will for the ninth time determine the 20 teams that qualify for the 2023 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 second ranking of the regular season will be released on Wednesday, October 19, 2022.
The 2023 ACHA Men’s Division I National Championships will be hosted March 16-21 for the first time at the New England Sports Center (NESC) in Marlborough, Mass. This will be the eleventh year of the 20-team format.
| 2022-2023 ACHA Men’s Division 1 Ranking #1 | ||||||
| Rank | School Name | 1st Votes | M1 Record | Pts | Previous | Conference |
| 1 | Nevada-Las Vegas | 11 | 3-0-0 | 743 | 2 | WCHL |
| 2 | Minot State | 12 | 4-0-0 | 728 | 4 | INDEP |
| 3 | Adrian | 6 | 4-0-0 | 727 | 3 | GLCHL |
| 4 | Central Oklahoma | 4 | 5-2-0 | 695 | 1 | WCHL |
| 5 | Liberty | 3-2-0 | 638 | 5 | INDEP | |
| 6 | Stony Brook | 2 | 4-0-0 | 623 | 6 | ESCHL |
| 7 | Ohio | 4-0-0 | 598 | 7 | CSCHL | |
| 8 | Indiana Tech | 3-1-0 | 533 | 8 | WHAC | |
| 9 | Maryville | 4-2-0 | 514 | 9 | CSCHL | |
| 10 | Pittsburgh | 4-0-1 | 478 | 11 | ESCHL | |
| 11 | Jamestown | 2-2-0 | 448 | 12 | MCH | |
| 12 | Niagara | 3-2-0 | 433 | 13 | ESCHL | |
| 13 | Arizona State | 4-0-0 | 316 | 20 | WCHL | |
| 14 | Michigan-Dearborn | 2-3-0 | 279 | 15 | WHAC | |
| 15 | Aquinas | 3-1-0 | 269 | 17 | WHAC | |
| 16 | Lawrence Tech | 5-0-0 | 246 | 22 T | WHAC | |
| 17 | Missouri State | 2-3-1 | 245 | 10 | WCHL | |
| 18 | Arizona | 1-2-1 | 181 | 16 | WCHL | |
| 19 | Illinois State | 5-2-1 | 175 | NR | MCH | |
| 20 | Drexel | 6-0-0 | 174 | 25 | ESCHL | |
| 21 | Davenport | 1-4-0 | 133 | 18 | GLCHL | |
| 22 | Utah | 1-4-0 | 124 | 19 | WCHL | |
| 23 | Delaware | 2-2-0 | 104 | 22 T | ESCHL | |
| 24 | Rhode Island | 2-2-0 | 99 | 21 | ESCHL | |
| 25 | Illinois | 0-4-0 | 76 | 14 | CSCHL | |
Others receiving votes: Grand Valley State, Grand Canyon, Colorado, Indiana Pennsylvania, Midland, Oswego State, William Paterson, Calvin, Robert Morris, Colorado State, Purdue Northwest, and Villanova.
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