ACHA Men’s D-I Ranking System Moves to Computer-based Poll

UNION LAKE, Mich. – (October 31, 2018) – Lindenwood University jumps to the top spot in the 2018-2019 American Collegiate Hockey Association Men's Division I Ranking, No. 5, as the ranking system switches to a computer poll from a coaches poll.

The Lions crushed the University of Illinois at home in Wentzville, Mo., to improve to a perfect 10-0-0, winning 7-2 on Friday before shutting out the Fighting Illini 6-0 on Saturday.  University of Michigan-Dearborn bounced up to the No. 2 spot after hammering Illinois State to improve to 4-0-0 on the season.  The Wolverines won 6-2 on Friday before grounding the Redbirds 12-1 on Saturday.  Adrian College dropped to the No. 3 spot despite improving to 8-0-0 on the season after torching Liberty University at Arrington Arena in Adrian, Mich.  The Bulldogs rolled 8-2 on Friday before surviving a 2-0 deficit on Saturday to extinguish the Flames 6-3 on Saturday. 

Davenport University jumped three spots to No. 4 after a road sweep over Robert Morris University Illinois.  The Panthers took Friday’s contest 6-4 before surviving in overtime on Saturday with a 6-5 win behind Alex Hulford’s third goal of the game.  Rounding out the top 5 is Iowa State University after it swept Minot State University in Ames, Iowa.  The Cyclones goaltender Matt Goedeke stopped 74 of 77 shots on the weekend resulting in a 3-1 win on Friday and a 3-2 overtime win on Saturday.

The Central States Collegiate Hockey League leads the way with all five of its member teams ranked, while the Eastern States Collegiate Hockey League has four (of 6) of its member teams ranked, the Western Collegiate Hockey League has five (of 8) of its member teams ranked, and the Great Lakes Collegiate Hockey League has four (of 8) of its member teams ranked.

With the ACHA switching to a computer-based ranking from a coaches poll, the ACHA will use the two computer rankings generated by USHSHO.com, Ranking A (Wins with Maximum Goal Differential of 7) and Ranking B (Wins with Maximum Goal Differential of 1), and come up with an average of the two rankings.  The ACHA will then use the list generated from the average for its weekly ranking.  Ties will be broken using the higher ranked team from Ranking B until the Top 25 teams are listed.  All games that go to overtime will be scored as ties in the computer ranking.

Over the past 16 seasons, 12 different schools have won the ACHA Men's Division I National Championship: Lindenwood (3), Central Oklahoma (2), Illinois (2), Adrian, Arizona State, Davenport, Delaware, Minot State, Oakland, Ohio, Penn State, and Rhode Island.

In its 28th season of action, there have been a total of 14 schools that have won the ACHA Men's Division I National Championship:

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

A total of 60 teams are competing in Men’s Division I this season, including two new teams: the University of Toledo and William Paterson University. The two teams that have departed Men’s Division I include Midland University and Saint Bonaventure University.

The computer ranking will for the sixth time determine the 20 teams that qualify for the 2019 ACHA Men's Division I National Championships, which will include the following six autobids:

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

The sixth ranking of the regular season will be released on Wednesday, November 7, 2018.

The 2019 ACHA Men's Division I National Championships will be hosted March 21-26 for the first time by the Dallas Sports Commission, Dallas Stars, and Dr Pepper StarCenters at the Dr Pepper Arena, in Frisco, TX. This will be the eighth year of the 20-team format.

# # #