Lions Finish First Semester with Perfect Record

UNION LAKE, Mich. – (December 5, 2018) – Lindenwood University retains the top spot in the 2018-2019 American Collegiate Hockey Association Men's Division-I Ranking, No. 9.  The Lions are done with games in 2018 and finished the first semester with a perfect 16-0-0 record.

The University of Michigan-Dearborn (7-0-0) solidified its hold on the No. 2 spot after handling No. 3 Adrian College 5-3 on the road at Arrington Ice Arena in Adrian, Mich.  Justin Dunn led the way with two goals including the game-winner while Thomas Proudlock was bullish in net making 45 saves on the night.  Michael Barrett turned away 40 shots in a losing cause, the Bulldogs first loss since November 18, 2017. 

Adrian College was able to bounce back from its first loss with a home and home conference sweep of Kent State University to up its record to 15-1-0 on the season.  Rainer Glimpel paced the way on the weekend with two goals and three assists while defenseman Jordan Oshowy had a goal in both games.

No. 4 Ohio University improved to 11-2-3 after a home conference sweep of Robert Morris University Illinois.  Gianni Evangelisti led the attack with three goals and an assist while Jimmy Thomas got both wins including a shutout on Saturday night.

Rounding out the top 5 was idle Iowa State University (10-4-0).

Moving into the polls this week is No. 21 Illinois State University while Western Michigan University drops out of the Top 25.

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

The ACHA uses 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 tenth ranking of the regular season will be released on Wednesday, December 12, 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 StarCenters at the Dr Pepper Arena, in Frisco, TX. This will be the eighth year of the 20-team format.