Adrian College received 12 out of 29 first-place votes to jump past Minot State University and into the top spot in the 2019-2020 ACHA Men’s Division I Rankings. The Bulldogs hammered visiting Mercyhurst University 9-0 on Thursday and 8-1 on Friday to improve to 4-0-0 on the season. Idle Minot State (2-0-2), the defending Men’s Division I National Champions of the American Collegiate Hockey Association, received 11 first-place votes but dropped to No. 2, according to a press release from the ACHA.
No. 3 Lindenwood University received 3 first-place votes and went on the road to Ames, Iowa and swept Iowa State University by allowing only 1 goal against on the weekend in Central States Collegiate Hockey League action, according to the release. The Lions won 3-1 on Friday and shutout the Cyclones 3-0 on Saturday.
The release also said that No. 4 was University of Michigan-Dearborn (1 first-place vote), which manhandled Concordia Ann Arbor in Wolverine-Hoosier league play to improve to 3-0-1 on the season. The Wolverines Thomas Proudlock pitched back-to-back shutouts by stopping all 37 shots directed his way, winning 11-0 on Friday and 10-0 on Saturday.
Rounding out the top five was Liberty University which improved to 7-0-0 on the season and received 2 first-place votes, per the ACHA. The Flames went on the road and swept University of Rhode Island (7-1, 5-1) in Eastern States Collegiate Hockey League action. The Flames have scored 53 goals on the season (7.57/game) while allowing only 8 goals against (1.14/game).
The Central States Collegiate Hockey League (5) leads the way with all of its member teams ranked, while the Eastern States Collegiate Hockey League has fix (of 6) of its member teams ranked, the Western Collegiate Hockey League has five (of 7) of its member teams ranked, and the Great Lakes Collegiate Hockey League has three (of 7) of its member teams ranked.
Over the past 17 seasons, 12 different schools have won the ACHA Men’s Division I National Championship: Lindenwood (3), Central Oklahoma (2), Illinois (2), Minot State (2), Adrian, Arizona State, Davenport, Delaware, Oakland, Ohio, Penn State, and Rhode Island.
Right now @AdrianCollege's @AdrianMD1Hockey is riding on top. That's right. The @AdrianBulldogs are no. 1 in the nation!#Bulldogs #GDTBAB #GoDawgs #Adrian #ACHA #HockeyTwitter pic.twitter.com/w4SMibmJNX
— Adrian College TV (@AdrianCollegeTV) October 17, 2019
Now in its 29th 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)
- Minot State (2)
- North Dakota State (2)
- Adrian
- Arizona State
- Davenport
- Delaware
- Iowa State
- Oakland
- Rhode Island
A total of 70 teams will compete in Men’s Division I this season, including eleven new teams: Aquinas College, Cleary University, Concordia University Ann Arbor, Grand Canyon University, Indiana Tech, Lawrence Tech, Maryville University, McKendree University, Midland University, Northern Illinois University, and Waldorf University. The sole team departing Men’s Division I is the University of Arkansas.
Here is @AdrianMD1Hockey HC Gary Astalos on his 103rd win at the helm here tonight
There were 105 shots on goal per Carly Costello. Wagner posted a shutout in the 9-0 win as well#CommittoExcellence #GDTBAB #W2D #GoDawgs #ACTV @AdrianCollege @AdrianBulldogs pic.twitter.com/RD5lOMgFbM
— Gabriel Schray (@schrayguy) October 11, 2019
The computer ranking, which will not commence until after November 1, will for the seventh time determine the 20 teams that qualify for the 2020 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 fourth ranking of the regular season will be released on Wednesday, October 23, 2019.
The 2020 ACHA Men’s Division I National Championships will be hosted March 19-24 for the second time by the Dallas Stars. This will be the ninth year of the 20-team format.
This press release was written by the American Collegiate Hockey Association. The featured image included is directly from the ACHA as well. For more college sports, follow us on Twitter @MWSNsports or like our page on Facebook.
