Denver edges UND in preseason NCHC poll
Sep. 16—GRAND FORKS — Denver still has not lost a hockey game with Johnny Hicks in net. Hicks is 16-0-1. He's got an NCAA national championship ring. In front of him, seven of Denver's top-nine scoring forwards are back from last year's squad, while its overhauled blue line features four freshmen taken in the top two rounds of the NHL Draft. With that talent at coach David Carle's disposal, ...
With Johnny Hicks leading the charge, Denver College edged out UND in the preseason National Collegiate Hockey Conference poll, narrowly securing the top spot. The Pioneers, who have not lost a game under Hicks' guidance, boast a formidable lineup. Seven of Denver's top-nine scorers from last season return, bolstered by four new blue-line defenders drafted in the NHL's top two rounds.
This potent combination has caught the attention of media members who cover the conference, who have cast Denver as the frontrunners to claim the Penrose Cup in 2026-27. In the annual poll, Denver garnered 14 first-place votes and 304 points, narrowly surpassing UND's 12 first-place votes and 302 points. Minnesota Duluth rounded out the top three with 273 points, while Western Michigan secured the fourth position.
Miami marked its return to the top five after a four-year absence. Colorado College secured the sixth position, followed by St. Thomas, St. Cloud State, Arizona State, and Omaha. A total of 33 media members participated in the poll, including local and national reporters. UND claimed the Penrose Cup last season under head coach Dane Jackson, with three players from that team earning a spot on the NCHC's preseason all-conference team.
Jan Špunar, UND's goaltender, won the NCHC Goaltender of the Year award as a freshman. The other three members of the preseason all-conference team hailed from Minnesota Duluth, with Max Plante, Zam Plante, and Ty Hanson. Max Plante went on to win the prestigious Hobey Baker Award as college hockey's top player, an accolade he will carry into his sophomore year at UND.
Written by urgent.news from Yahoo Sports's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
