DENVER – The University of Denver hockey team opens the 2022-23 campaign as the No. 1-ranked team in both national polls after DCU/USCHO.com and the USA Today/USA Hockey Magazine released their preseason rankings on Monday.
 
Denver is the reigning NCAA champions after winning its record-tying ninth national championship with a 5-1 victory against Minnesota State on April 9 in Boston. The Pioneers finished 2021-22 with a 31-9-1 overall record and an 18-6-0 mark in NCHC play, winning their second Penrose Cup as conference regular-season champions.
 
The Pioneers earned 37-of-50 first-place votes in the DCU/USCHO.com poll, with No. 2 Minnesota (8), No. 3 Minnesota State (3) and No. 6 Michigan also earning first-place nods. Denver had 25-of-34 first-place votes in the USA Today/USA Hockey Magazine poll.
 
Prior to finishing the 2021-22 campaign as the No. 1 team in the nation, the last time DU ranked in the top spot was early November 2019.
 
Overall, five NCHC squads were ranked as North Dakota (4/4), Minnesota Duluth (5/5), St. Cloud State (13/13) and Western Michigan (14/12) all earned spots in both polls. Omaha earned votes in both polls as well but isn't in the top 20.
 
UP NEXT: The Pioneers begin competition with an exhibition against Nevada Las Vegas on Saturday, Oct. 1 at Magness Arena before opening the regular season by co-hosting the Ice Breaker Tournament versus Notre Dame and Maine on Oct. 7-8.
 
TICKETS: Single-game tickets, as well as five-game packs are on sale now. Full and half-season ticket packages are also available. Click here for more.

 
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