Photo by: Michael Ciaglo/Clarkson Creative Photography
DU Hockey Voted Favorite for 2026-27 in NCHC Preseason Media Poll
9/16/2026 6:24:00 PM | Ice Hockey
Defending national champions have been voted first in four of the last five years
DENVER – The University of Denver hockey was voted as the favorite for the 2026-27 NCHC season in the conference preseason media poll that was announced on Wednesday.
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The Pioneers are the reigning NCAA National Champions and the defending NCHC Frozen Faceoff Tournament title holders. DU has reached the NCAA Frozen Four in four of the last five seasons, winning championships in 2022, 2024 and 2026.
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Denver raised its fourth National Cup on the ice at Magness Arena in March to complete the first year of the conference tournament being played entirely on campus sites. After sweeping their opening-round series against Miami, the Pioneers beat Western Michigan 2-1 in overtime in the semifinals and Minnesota Duluth 4-3 in double-OT in the championship to secure the league's automatic berth into the national tournament.
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DU finished the 2025-26 regular season in second place in the conference standings with 52 points and a 17-6-1 record in league play. North Dakota earned the Penrose Cup as regular-season championship with also a 17-6-1 mark and 55 points.
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The Pios collected 14-of-33 first-place votes and 304 points in total in this year's preseason poll. North Dakota garnered the second-most with 12 first-place tallies and 302 points, while Minnesota Duluth also picked up top votes (7) and was chosen third in the poll with 273 points. The full order is below.
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Denver has been voted as the favorite in the NCHC preseason poll in three of the past four years (2022, 2023, 2024).
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Media members from each of the 10 NCHC school's markets as well as select national college hockey media voted in the annual poll. Points were awarded on a descending scale with a first-place vote worth 10 points, a second-place vote worth nine points and down to a 10th-place vote worth one point.
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DU opens its season on Oct. 2-3 at Alaska Anchorage and takes on Michigan in its first home weekend on Oct. 16-17. The Pioneers' first NCHC games are Oct. 30-31 versus Omaha at Magness Arena.
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NCHC 2026-27 PRESEASON POLL
1. Denver – 304 points (14 First-Place Votes)
2. North Dakota – 302 (12)
3. Minnesota Duluth – 273 (7)
4. Western Michigan – 237
5. Miami – 175
6. Colorado College – 159
7. St. Thomas – 121
8. St. Cloud State – 102
9. Arizona State – 73
10. Omaha – 69
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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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The Pioneers are the reigning NCAA National Champions and the defending NCHC Frozen Faceoff Tournament title holders. DU has reached the NCAA Frozen Four in four of the last five seasons, winning championships in 2022, 2024 and 2026.
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Denver raised its fourth National Cup on the ice at Magness Arena in March to complete the first year of the conference tournament being played entirely on campus sites. After sweeping their opening-round series against Miami, the Pioneers beat Western Michigan 2-1 in overtime in the semifinals and Minnesota Duluth 4-3 in double-OT in the championship to secure the league's automatic berth into the national tournament.
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DU finished the 2025-26 regular season in second place in the conference standings with 52 points and a 17-6-1 record in league play. North Dakota earned the Penrose Cup as regular-season championship with also a 17-6-1 mark and 55 points.
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The Pios collected 14-of-33 first-place votes and 304 points in total in this year's preseason poll. North Dakota garnered the second-most with 12 first-place tallies and 302 points, while Minnesota Duluth also picked up top votes (7) and was chosen third in the poll with 273 points. The full order is below.
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Denver has been voted as the favorite in the NCHC preseason poll in three of the past four years (2022, 2023, 2024).
Â
Media members from each of the 10 NCHC school's markets as well as select national college hockey media voted in the annual poll. Points were awarded on a descending scale with a first-place vote worth 10 points, a second-place vote worth nine points and down to a 10th-place vote worth one point.
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DU opens its season on Oct. 2-3 at Alaska Anchorage and takes on Michigan in its first home weekend on Oct. 16-17. The Pioneers' first NCHC games are Oct. 30-31 versus Omaha at Magness Arena.
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NCHC 2026-27 PRESEASON POLL
1. Denver – 304 points (14 First-Place Votes)
2. North Dakota – 302 (12)
3. Minnesota Duluth – 273 (7)
4. Western Michigan – 237
5. Miami – 175
6. Colorado College – 159
7. St. Thomas – 121
8. St. Cloud State – 102
9. Arizona State – 73
10. Omaha – 69
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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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DENVER'S HOME FOR COLLEGE SPORTS Â
Visit DenverPioneers.com for complete coverage of all 18 of DU's NCAA Division I sports
Like Denver Pioneers and Denver Hockey on Facebook
Follow @DU_Pioneers and @DU_Hockey on X
Follow @DenverPioneers and @DU_Hockey on Instagram
 Visit DenverPioneers.com for complete coverage of all 18 of DU's NCAA Division I sports
Like Denver Pioneers and Denver Hockey on Facebook
Follow @DU_Pioneers and @DU_Hockey on X
Follow @DenverPioneers and @DU_Hockey on Instagram
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