MANKATO, Minn. – Minnesota State men's hockey received votes in Monday's USCHO Division I National Rankings Poll. The poll is compiled weekly and consists of 50 voters, including coaches and media professionals from across the country.
 
The Mavericks finished their 2022-23 campaign with a 25-13-1 overall record (16-9-1 CCHA), won the Mason Cup and advanced to the NCAA Regional Tournament in March.
 
Michigan Tech represented the CCHA nationally, ranked this week at No. 10. Northern Michigan, Bemidji State, Bowling Green, and St. Thomas also received national votes.
 
Minnesota State closed out the 2022-23 season ranked No. 12 on April 10. The last time the Mavericks did not appear in the USCHO Top-20 was Oct. 9, 2017. Since then, MSU has appeared in the poll 131 consecutive weeks.
 
The Mavericks were recently ranked sixth in the CCHA Preseason Coaches' Poll and fourth in the CCHA Preseason Media Poll.
 
The team begins the regular season when it hosts St. Cloud State October 13-14 at Mayo Clinic Health System Event Center in Mankato under first year head coach Luke Strand. The Mavericks will seek to qualify for the NCAA Tournament for the sixth straight season.
 
Top returners include fifth year seniors Sam Morton (Lafayette, Colo.) and Lucas Sowder (Trinity, Fla.), as well as junior goaltender Keenan Rancier (Victoria, B.C.). Sophomore goaltenders Alex Tracy (Chicago, Ill.) and Andrew Miller (Boulder, Colo.) also return between the pipes.

USCHO Division I Ice Hockey Poll (Preseason)

Rank/Team (1st place votes)	Record	Points	Last Ranking
1. Boston University (17)	29-11-0	946	4
2. Quinnipiac (22)	34-4-3	916	1
3. Minnesota (10)	29-10-1	907	2
4. Denver	30-10-0	849	6
5. Michigan (1)	26-12-3	813	3
6. Boston College	14-16-6	636	NR
7. North Dakota	18-15-6	608	17
8. St. Cloud State	25-13-3	569	5
9. Michigan State	25-13-1	475	19
10. Michigan Tech	24-11-4	437	13
11. Cornell	21-11-2	414	9
12. Western Michigan	23-15-1	383	11
13. Ohio State	21-16-3	371	7
14. Merrimack	23-14-1	346	14
15. Harvard	24-8-2	329	10
16. Penn State	22-16-1	294	8
17. Minnesota Duluth	16-20-1	187	NR
18. Providence	16-14-7	172	NR
19. Northeastern	17-13-5	134	16
20. Notre Dame	16-16-5	114	NR

Others receiving votes: Connecticut 100, Minnesota State 97, Northern Michigan 81, Wisconsin 74, Omaha 45, Alaska 40, UMass Lowell 31, Arizona State 30, Clarkson 22, RIT 17, Colorado College 13, Maine 10, Colgate 9, AIC 7, Bemidji State 6, Bowling Green 6, St. Thomas 4, Canisius 3, St. Lawrence 3, Sacred Heart 2