MANKATO, Minn. – Minnesota State men's hockey was ranked No. 18 in the preseason USA Hockey/The Rink Live national Division I poll on Monday (Sept. 29). Defending national champion Western Michigan received 22 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. 20. Bemidji State and Bowling Green also 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. The team was also ranked No. 18 in last week's USCHO.com national preseason poll.

USA Hockey/The Rink Live Division I National Rankings Poll (Sep. 29).

Rank/Team (First Place Votes)	Last Yr.	2024-25 Record	Weeks in Top 20
1. Western Michigan (22)	1	34-7-1	1
2. Boston University (4)	2	24-14-2	1
3. Michigan State (6)	6	26-7-4	1
4. Denver	3	31-12-1	1
5. Penn State (1)	5	22-14-4	1
6. Boston College	4	27-8-2	1
7. Minnesota	8	25-11-4	1
T-8. Maine	7	24-8-6	1
T-8. Providence	14	21-11-5	1
T-10. Connecticut	9	23-12-4	1
T-10. North Dakota	18	21-15-2	1
12. Michigan (1)	17	18-15-3	1
13. Quinnipiac	13	24-12-2	1
14. Arizona State	16	21-14-2	1
15. Massachusetts	10	21-14-5	1
16. Cornell	11	19-11-6	1
17. Ohio State	12	24-14-2	1
18. Minnesota State	15	27-9-3	1
19. Wisconsin	NR	13-21-3	1
T-20. Clarkson	19	24-12-3	1
T-20. St. Thomas	NR	19-14-5	1

Others receiving votes: Colorado College, 31; Northeastern University, 29; University of Massachusetts Lowell, 27; University of Minnesota Duluth, 24; University of Notre Dame, 13; Bentley University, 7; Sacred Heart University, 6; Harvard University, 5; St. Cloud State University, 4; Brown University, 3; University of Nebraska Omaha, 3; Bemidji State University, 1; Bowling Green University, 1; Dartmouth College, 1; Union College, 1.