UNION LAKE, MI – Lindenwood University, the defending ACHA Men's Division 1 National Champions, received 20 out of 24 first-places votes to come in as this year’s pick for the top spot in the 2016-2017 ACHA Men's Division 1 Preseason Ranking.  Iowa State, Stony Brook, Davenport, and Minot State round out the Top 5, with #2 Iowa State, #3 Stony Brook, #7 Ohio, and #9 Colorado each receiving one first-place vote.

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The Central States Collegiate Hockey League (5) and Western Collegiate Hockey League (8) lead the way with all of its member teams ranked, while the Eastern States Collegiate Hockey League has 4 (of 6) of its member teams ranked, the Great Lakes Collegiate Hockey League has 4 (of 9) of its member teams ranked, and the Northeast Collegiate Hockey League has 3 (of 10) of its member teams ranked.

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Over the past fourteen seasons, 11 different schools have won the ACHA Men's Division 1 National Championship: Lindenwood (3), Illinois (2), Arizona State, Central Oklahoma, Davenport, Delaware, Minot State, Oakland, Ohio, Penn State, and Rhode Island.

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Entering its 26th season of action, there have been a total of 13 schools that have won the ACHA Men's Division 1 National Championship:

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• Penn State (5 times)
• Ohio (4 times)
• Lindenwood (3 times)
• Illinois (2 times)
• North Dakota State (2 times)
• Arizona State
• Central Oklahoma
• Davenport
• Delaware
• Iowa State
• Minot State
• Oakland
• Rhode Island

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59 teams will compete in Men’s Division 1 this season, including three new teams: Arizona State University, Jamestown University, and the University of Utah.  The two teams departing Men’s Division 1 are Lebanon Valley College, which returns its program to NCAA Division 3 status, and Ithaca College.

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The computer ranking, which will not commence until late October, will for the fourth time determine the 20 teams that qualify for the 2017 ACHA Men's Division 1 National Championships, which will include the following six autobids:

• (CHMA) College Hockey Mid-America
• (ECHA) Eastern Collegiate Hockey Association
• (ESCHL) Eastern States Collegiate Hockey League
• (GLCHL) Great Lakes Collegiate Hockey League
• (NECHL) Northeast Collegiate Hockey League
• (WCHL) Western Collegiate Hockey League

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The first ranking of the regular season will be released on Wednesday, September 21, 2016.

The 2017 ACHA Men's Division 1 National Championships will be hosted March 9-14 for the first time by the Greater Columbus Sports Commission, Columbus Blue Jackets, and OhioHealth Chiller Ice Rinks at the OhioHealth Ice Haus, in Columbus, OH. This will be the sixth year of the 20-team format.

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Others receiving votes: Rhode Island, Mercyhurst, Robert Morris Pennsylvania, Indiana Tech, Canisius, and West Virginia.

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