COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – After the National Collegiate Hockey Conference (NCHC) released its Preseason All-Conference Team on Tuesday, the NCHC revealed its 2026-27 Preseason Media Poll on Wednesday with the reigning NCAA National Champions selected on top.
 
The Denver Pioneers were picked first in the 2026 NCHC Preseason Poll, collecting 304 points total and 14 of 33 first-place votes. DU earned two more points and two more first-place votes than North Dakota, which came in second in the Preseason Poll with 302 points and 12 first-place votes. The Fighting Hawks captured the Penrose Cup as NCHC regular-season champions last season.
 
Placing third in the 2026 NCHC Preseason Media Poll is Minnesota Duluth, which garnered the remaining seven first-place votes and totaled 273 points. Western Michigan was picked fourth in the poll with 237 points, followed by Miami in fifth with 175 points to complete the top half.
 
Colorado College came in sixth in the Preseason Media Poll with 159 points, while NCHC newcomer St. Thomas was seventh (121 points). Rounding out the NCHC Preseason Media Poll are St. Cloud State (102 points), Arizona State (73 points) and Omaha (69 points) in places eight through 10, respectively.
 
Denver finished second in the NCHC last season before going on to win the 2026 NCHC Frozen Faceoff and NCAA National Championship, finishing on a 17-game unbeaten streak (16-0-1). DU went 29-11-3 overall last year and 17-6-1 in the NCHC. 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 last won the Penrose Cup during the 2022-23 season.
 
North Dakota, the reigning Penrose Cup champions, also returns its goaltender in sophomore Jan Špunar, who was the NCHC Goaltender of the Year last season. Špunar was also named to the NCHC Preseason All-Conference Team on Tuesday along with UND sophomores Cole Reschny at forward and Keaton Verhoeff at defenseman. Reschny will serve as NoDak’s captain this season. The Fighting Hawks joined Denver in the NCAA Frozen Four in Las Vegas last season, as well, posting a 29-10-1 record overall and 17-6-1 in conference play.
 
The third and final team to receive first-place votes in the Preseason Poll, Minnesota Duluth, returns much of last year’s team after finishing in fourth place in the NCHC with a 24-15-1 overall record, including 11-12-1 in the NCHC. The Bulldogs will be led by 2026 Hobey Baker Award winner Max Plante, as the junior forward will serve as UMD co-captain this season. He was joined by his brother, fellow junior forward Zam Plante, and junior defenseman Ty Hanson on the 2026-27 Preseason All-NCHC Team, as the Bulldogs make up half the squad. Hanson will serve as co-captain with Max Plante. UMD was the NCHC Frozen Faceoff runner-up in 2026 and made the NCAA regional finals.
 
A total of 33 ballots were submitted by local media members from each school, as well as select national media. Points were awarded on a descending scale with a first-place vote worth 10 points, a second-place vote worth nine points down to a 10th place-vote worth one point.  
 
While the NCHC will not hold an in-person Media Day in 2026, media will be able to speak with coaches and student-athletes from each team via video call during the NCHC’s virtual Media Days on Sept. 22-23. Commissioner Heather Weems’ State of the Conference address will be posted to NCHC.tv following virtual Media Days.
 
The NCHC drops the puck on its 14th season on Friday, Oct. 2 with six teams in action, while the pursuit of the Penrose Cup begins on Friday, Oct. 30. Fans can watch approximately 200 games live this season on NCHC.tv, including seven games opening weekend. To subscribe to NCHC.tv and save with Early Bird pricing, click here.
 
2026-27 NCHC Preseason Media Poll

1. Denver, 304 points (14 first-place votes)
2. North Dakota, 302 points (12 first-place votes)
3. Minnesota Duluth, 273 points (7 first-place votes)
4. Western Michigan, 237 points
5. Miami, 175 points
6. Colorado College, 159 points
7. St. Thomas, 121 points
8. St. Cloud State, 102 points
9. Arizona State, 73 points
10. Omaha, 69 points