MANKATO, Minn. --- The Minnesota State men's hockey team has been ranked 17th in the USA Men's College Hockey Preseason Poll.

Defending national champion Denver topped the poll with 29 first-place votes and 668 points, which Michigan following in second with one first-place vote and 620 points. Michigan State followed in third with 614 points while North Dakota (589 points) and Minnesota Duluth (514 points) rounded out the top-five.

Minnesota State is one of two CCHA teams ranked in the preseason poll. Michigan Tech was ranked 20th as it received 50 points. Augustana and Bowling Green are receiving votes as well.

The Mavericks host Manitoba in an exhibition game on Friday at 11:30 a.m. Minnesota State opens its regular season schedule at home on Oct. 9-10 as it hosts #6 Wisconsin. Puck drops are scheduled for 7:07 p.m. and 6:07 p.m. at Mayo Clinic Health System Event Center.
 

RANK	SCHOOL	Votes	FINAL 2025-26 RANK	2025-26 RECORD	WEEKS IN TOP 20	CONFERENCE
1	University of Denver	668 (29)	1	29-11-3	1	NCHC
2	University of Michigan	620 (1)	3	31-8-1	1	Big Ten
3	Michigan State University	614 (3)	5	26-9-2	1	Big Ten
4	University of North Dakota	589 (1)	4	29-10-1	1	NCHC
5	University of Minnesota Duluth	514	7	24-15-1	1	NCHC
6	University of Wisconsin	494	2	24-13-2	1	Big Ten
7	Providence College	461	9	23-11-2	1	HEA
8	Quinnipiac University	455	8	27-10-3	1	ECAC
9	Western Michigan University	433	6	27-11-1	1	NCHC
10	University of Massachusetts	308	16	22-13-1	1	HEA
11	Dartmouth College	299	10	23-8-4	1	ECAC
12	Boston College	287	18	20-15-1	1	HEA
13	Cornell University	240	12	22-11-1	1	ECAC
14	University of Connecticut	207	13	20-13-5	1	HEA
15	Boston University	185	NR	17-17-2	1	HEA
16	Penn State University	174	11	21-14-2	1	Big Ten
17	Minnesota State	157	14	22-11-7	1	CCHA
18	University of Minnesota	103	NR	11-22-3	1	Big Ten
19	Merrimack College	59	15	21-16-2	1	HEA
20	Michigan Tech University	50	RV	23-13-3	1	CCHA