MANKATO, Minn. – Minnesota State men's hockey was ranked No. 18 in the preseason USCHO.com national Division I poll on Monday (Sept. 22). Defending national champion Western Michigan received 29 first place votes and were the top ranked team in the nation, followed by Boston University, Michigan State, Denver and Penn State.
The Mavericks were one of two CCHA teams inside the top-20 with St. Thomas slotting in at No. 19. Bowling Green, Michigan Tech, Augustana and Bemidji State received national votes.
The Mavericks open the regular season at Omaha on Oct. 10-11 at Baxter Arena. The team then travels to No. 20 Wisconsin Oct. 16-17. MSU was ranked second in the CCHA Preseason Coaches' Poll and first in the CCHA Preseason Media poll last week.
USCHO.com Division I National Rankings Poll (Sep. 22).
| Rank/Team (First Place Votes) |
Record |
Points |
Last Poll |
| 1. Western Michigan (29) |
0-0-0 |
921 |
1 |
| 2. Boston University (3) |
0-0-0 |
907 |
2 |
| 3. Michigan State (14) |
0-0-0 |
877 |
6 |
| 4. Denver |
0-0-0 |
840 |
3 |
| 5. Penn State (3) |
0-0-0 |
820 |
5 |
| 6. Boston College |
0-0-0 |
647 |
4 |
| 7. Maine |
0-0-0 |
619 |
8 |
| 8. Minnesota |
0-0-0 |
592 |
9 |
| 9. Providence |
0-0-0 |
559 |
13 |
| 10. UConn |
0-0-0 |
542 |
7 |
| 11. North Dakota |
0-0-0 |
536 |
18 |
| 12. Michigan (1) |
0-0-0 |
434 |
17 |
| 13. Quinnipiac |
0-0-0 |
373 |
15 |
| 14. Arizona State |
0-0-0 |
358 |
16 |
| 15. UMass |
0-0-0 |
311 |
10 |
| 16. Ohio State |
0-0-0 |
280 |
11 |
| 17. Cornell |
0-0-0 |
228 |
12 |
| 18. Minnesota State |
0-0-0 |
169 |
14 |
| 19. St. Thomas |
0-0-0 |
92 |
NR |
| 20. Wisconsin |
0-0-0 |
78 |
NR |
Others receiving votes: Colorado College 68, Clarkson 64, Northeastern 23, UMass Lowell 23, Omaha 20, Minnesota Duluth 19, Sacred Heart 19, Bentley 16, St. Cloud State 15, Notre Dame 12, Dartmouth 10, Bowling Green 5, Colgate 5, Brown 4, Harvard 4, Holy Cross 4, Michigan Tech 3, Augustana 1, Bemidji State 1, Union 1
