Denver Hockey Maintains No. 1 Ranking, Set for No. 2 Michigan

DENVER - The University of Denver hockey team maintained its No. 1 national ranking for another week in both the USCHO.com and USA Hockey media polls that were released Monday.

Denver received 33-of-50 first-place votes in the USCHO.com ranking and 32-of-34 apex votes in the USA Hockey media poll. DU has been ranked No. 1 in the past three polls, dating back to the preseason ballots. Both polls ranked Michigan, DU's next regular-season opponent, at No. 2. The Wolverines garnered 14-of-50 and 1-of-34 top votes in the surveys, respectively, and are getting set to make their first visit to Denver since March 1981.

The top-two program matchup serves as a rematch from both the 2022 and 2026 Frozen Four semifinals. This is the first time that DU has played in a No.1 vs No. 2 game since the then-No.2 Pioneers hosted No.1 Minnesota Duluth at Magness Arena on Dec 9-10, 2016. The two-game series versus Michigan begins Friday at 7 p.m. MT, with the Pios raising their championship banner prior to puck drop.

Last week, the Pioneers defeated the United States National Under-18 Team 7-1 in an exhibition at Magness Arena on Saturday night. DU began its regular season on Oct. 2-3 with a road sweep at Alaska Anchorage, winning 6-2 and 4-1.

Michigan State trails Denver and Michigan at No. 3 in both rankings. NCHC members North Dakota and Minnesota Duluth are also in the top 10, with UND at No. 4 and UMD at No. 9 in both polls. Western Michigan and Colorado College both moved up in the polls this week. The Broncos climbed from No. 8 to No. 6 in both, and the Tigers went from an agreeable No. 15 to USCHO.com's No. 12 and USA Hockey's No. 13.

Omaha and St. Thomas, other NCHC members, also received votes on the USCHO.com list.

NCHC has the most teams ranked in the top 10 (four) and is tied with Hockey East for most ranked overall (five).

UP NEXT: he No. 1 Pioneers begin a season-long, six-game homestand by hosting the No. 2 Michigan Wolverines on Friday at 7 p.m. MT to start a two-game series. The teams will conclude the weekend set on Saturday at 6 p.m. MT. Denver takes on Boston College on Oct. 23-24 for homecoming weekend before staring NCHC play against Omaha on Oct. 30-31.

About the USCHO.com poll: 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 poll: The 32nd 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 34 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 as well as mini plans and group packages for the DU hockey's championship-defense campaign in 2026-27 are on sale now. Click here for more information.

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