Minot State men’s hockey starts season ranked No. 3 | News, Sports, Jobs

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The Minot State Beavers men’s hockey team prepares for the upcoming season. Photo courtesy of MSU Athletics

With puck drop just a few weeks away for the Minot State men’s hockey team, the Beavers prepare for the new campaign with a No. 3 national ranking.

The ACHA released its preseason poll and Minot State, which advanced to the national semifinals in March, was picked at No. 3 in the ACHA Men’s Division I Preseason poll.

The reigning national champions, UNLV, were picked No. 1 in the poll with 23 of 24 first-place votes. National runner-up Adrian (Mich.) was picked No. 2 with the final first-place vote.

Rounding out the Top 5 in the preseason poll were Liberty (Va.), which also played in the national semifinals, at No. 4, and Ohio, which was ranked No. 5.

Minot State’s in-state rivals and Midwest Collegiate Hockey foes Jamestown and Mary checked in at No. 6 and No. 14, respectively, in the preseason poll.

The Minot State men’s hockey team will open its 2025-26 season at home at the Maysa Arena, hosting the University of Regina in an exhibition contest on Saturday, Sept. 27, at 7 p.m.