COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – After finishing last season ranked No. 1 in the country as National Champions, Denver picks up where it left off as the Pioneers are ranked No. 1 in both national preseason polls heading into the 2026-27 season. The National Collegiate Hockey Conference (NCHC) has four teams ranked nationally overall, all in the top 10.
 
In addition to Denver at No. 1, North Dakota sits at No. 4 in both the USCHO.com and USA Hockey Preseason Polls, with Minnesota Duluth right behind at No. 5 in both. Western Michigan rounds out the ranked NCHC quartet at No. 8 in the USCHO Poll and No. 9 in the USA Hockey Coaches Poll.
 
The Pioneers received 35 of 50 first-place votes in the USCHO Poll and 29 of 34 in the USA Hockey Coaches Poll. Michigan is behind Denver at No. 2 in both polls and heads to the Mile High City for a marquee series Oct. 16-17. DU went 29-11-3 overall last year, finishing on a 17-game unbeaten streak (16-0-1) to win the NCHC Frozen Faceoff and NCAA National Championship, the program’s 11th all-time. Frozen Faceoff and Frozen Four Most Outstanding Player Johnny Hicks returns in net for the Pioneers after setting the NCAA single-season save percentage record as a freshman. DU also topped the NCHC Preseason Poll as favorites to win the Penrose Cup. Denver opens at Alaska Anchorage on Oct. 2-3.
 
North Dakota collected two first-place votes in the USCHO Poll and one in the USA Hockey Poll. UND is sandwiched between No. 3 Michigan State and No. 5 Minnesota Duluth in both polls and will face both teams this season. North Dakota finished 29-10-1 last season, winning the Penrose Cup and making the NCAA Frozen Four in Las Vegas. Three Fighting Hawk sophomores were named to the NCHC Preseason All-Conference Team this year in forward Cole Reschny, the reigning NCHC Rookie of the Year and UND’s team captain, defenseman Keaton Verhoeff and goaltender Jan Špunar, the reigning NCHC Goalie of the Year. NoDak opens with exhibitions against Augustana on Oct. 3 and Manitoba on Oct. 4.
 
Minnesota Duluth is right behind UND at No. 5 in the polls and is in front of last year’s national runner-up Wisconsin, which is No. 6 in both rankings. The Bulldogs ended last season with a 24-15-1 mark while making the Frozen Faceoff final and NCAA Regional final. The Bulldogs will be led by 2026 Hobey Baker Award winner and NCHC Player of the Year Max Plante, the first Hobey winner to return to college in 19 years. He was joined by his brother, fellow junior forward Zam Plante, and junior defenseman Ty Hanson on the 2026-27 Preseason All-NCHC Team. Plante and Hanson will be UMD’s co-captains this year. The Bulldogs open the season at home against Long Island on Oct. 2-3.
 
The final ranked NCHC team is Western Michigan, which finished last year with a 27-11-1 record while making it to the NCAA Regional final before falling to Denver. In the USCHO Poll, the No. 8 Broncos rank between No. 7 Quinnipiac and No. 9 Providence. In the USA Hockey Poll, No. 9 WMU is in between No. 8 Quinnipiac and No. 10 Massachusetts. The Broncos will be led by senior captain Zaccharya Wisdom and senior assistant captain William Whitelaw, with both potting at least 17 goals last year. Western Michigan faces Western Ontario in an exhibition on Oct. 3 before welcoming Ferris State on Thursday, Oct. 8 to open the regular season.
 
Three other NCHC teams received votes in both national polls in St. Thomas, Miami and Colorado College. Arizona State received votes only in the USCHO.com Poll.
 
To see the complete preseason national polls, click here.