DENVER – The Denver Pioneers hockey team ranks No. 6 in the USCHO.com poll and No. 5 on the USA Hockey list after the latest nationals polls were released on Monday.
DU had a one-game week as it faced the University of Minnesota in the 2025 U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame Game at Ball Arena in downtown Denver. The Pioneers, who were previously No. 4 in each poll, finished with a 52-25 edge in shots on goal and scored four goals in the third period to force overtime, but they ultimately lost 6-5 to the Gophers in the extra frame.
Michigan remains as the No. 1 team in the country, while fellow Big Ten Conference foes Wisconsin is No. 2 and Michigan State is No. 3. Two other NCHC squads are also in the top six with Minnesota Duluth at No. 4 in both, while North Dakota is at No. 5 in USCHO.com and behind DU at No. 6 in USA Hockey.
Three other schools from the NCHC are also ranked as Western Michigan is behind Denver at No. 7/7 while Miami rejoins the polls at No. 19/19 after winning the Friendship Four tournament last weekend in Belfast, Northern Ireland. Colorado College also reentered the USCHO.com poll at No. 20 and received votes in the other.
The NCHC's six ranked teams are tied with Hockey East for the most among all conferences while its four in the top 10 are also tied for the most with the Big Ten. Two other league members in Arizona State and St. Cloud State also earned votes in each ranking.
UP NEXT: Denver continues a three-game homestay this weekend as it hosts the Miami RedHawks on Friday and Saturday at 7 p.m. MT at Magness Arena.
About the USCHO.com: The Division I men's ice hockey poll is compiled weekly and consists of 50 voters, including coaches and media professionals from across the country.
About the USA Hockey/The Rink Live Poll: The 31st annual USA Hockey Men's College Hockey Poll is conducted each week in conjunction with the American Hockey Coaches Association. The poll includes input from coaches and journalists representing each of the six NCAA Division I ice hockey conferences, as well as composite votes from officers of the AHCA and USA Hockey.
TICKETS: Single-game tickets and 5-game mini plans for DU hockey's 2025-26 campaign are on sale now.
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