February
13, 2008 - The votes are in, and two new teams will be competing at the 2008 ACHA Men's Division 1 National Tournament, including Western Michigan University and Stony Brook University. The University of Illinois, Regular-Season Champions of the Central States Collegiate Hockey League (CSCHL) and undefeated at 29-0-0, was the unanimous choice for the #1 spot for the 3rd consecutive ranking, receiving all 39 first-place votes. The Fighting Illini have held the top spot for eight consecutive rankings and will be making their 11th consecutive appearance at the National Tournament, and 13th overall. Illinois won the National Championship in 2005. Lindenwood University jumped into the #2 spot and will make its 4th consecutive appearance. Penn State fell to #3, but, along with Iowa State, have now qualified for all seventeen ACHA Men's Division 1 National Tournaments. The Nittany Lions hope to keep their magical streak alive, having played in ten consecutive ACHA Men's Division 1 National Championship games, and 12 of the 16 contested. Penn State, Regular-Season Champions of the Eastern States Collegiate Hockey League (ESCHL), has won 5 National Championships, the last coming in 2003. The University of Delaware, fresh off a sweep of Penn State, moves into the #4 position and will be making its 11th appearance at the National Tournament. The Blue Hens were National Runners-Up in 2001. The University of Oklahoma falls to the #5 spot and will be making its 3rd consecutive appearance, while Liberty stays at #6 and makes its second consecutive appearance at the Men's Division 1 National Tournament. The Flames moved up from ACHA Men's Division 2 last season, and were the 2006 Men's Division 2 National Runners-Up. Ohio University moves up to #7 and will be making its 15th consecutive appearance. The Bobcats have 4 National Championships and have played in the National Championship Game 6 times. The University of Rhode Island dropped to #8 and will be making its 5th consecutive appearance, winning the 2006 National Championship. West Chester University, Regular-Season Champions of the Eastern Collegiate Hockey Association (ECHA), remains at #9. The Golden Rams will be making their 5th consecutive appearance. Iowa State University rounds out the top 10 and has qualified for all seventeen ACHA Men's Division 1 National Tournaments. The Cyclones won the Inauguaral ACHA Men's Division 1 National Championship in 1992. Kent State University maintains the #11 spot and will make its 2nd consecutive appearance, and 5th overall. Defending ACHA Men's Division 1 National Champions Oakland University held the #12 spot and is making its second consecutive appearance at the Men's Division 1 National Tournament. The Golden Grizzlies moved up from ACHA Men's Division 2 last season, and were the 2004 and 2006 Men's Division 2 National Champions. Western Michigan University is the rankings highest mover, jumping up two spots to come in at #13. The Stallions return to the National Tournament for the first time since 1999, making their 3rd appearance at the Men's Division 1 National Tournament, and were the 1996 Men's Division 2 National Champions. West Virginia University, Regular-Season Champions of College Hockey Mid-America (CHMA), drops to #14, but will make its 2nd consecutive appearance at the National Tournament, and 3rd overall. Eastern Michigan University falls two spots to #15. The Eagles qualified for its 13th National Tournament berth, and first since 2003, however, the Eagles declined the bid. As a result, Stony Brook University, which held ground in the #16 spot, will make its first appearance at the Men's Division 1 National Tournament. The Seawolves moved up to Men's Division 1 this season and were the 2003 Men's Division 2 National Runners-Up. Robert Morris (PA) earns the automatic berth out of the Eastern Collegiate Hockey League (ECHL) and rounds out the sixteen participating ACHA Men's Division 1 National Tournament teams. The Colonials, the 2002 ACHA Men's Division 3 National Champions, will be making their 2nd consecutive appearance at the Men's Division 1 National Tournament.
2007-2008
Ranking #9 |
Rank |
School Name |
1st Votes |
Record |
Points |
Previous |
1 |
Illinois |
39 |
29-0-0 |
875 |
1 |
2 |
Lindenwood |
|
26-6-1 |
813 |
3 |
3 |
Penn State |
|
29-3-4 |
805 |
2 |
4 |
Delaware |
|
26-5-1 |
782 |
5 |
5 |
Oklahoma |
|
27-4-2 |
745 |
4 |
6 |
Liberty |
|
21-8-1 |
689 |
6 |
7 |
Ohio |
|
22-12-1 |
658 |
8 |
8 |
Rhode Island |
|
22-13-1 |
613 |
7 |
9 |
West Chester |
|
25-6-2 |
610 |
9 |
10 |
Iowa
State |
|
27-9-2 |
556 |
10 |
11 |
Kent
State |
|
21-13-0 |
522 |
11 |
12 |
Oakland |
|
20-9-1 |
487 |
12 |
13 |
Western Michigan |
|
21-12-2 |
412 |
15 |
14 |
West
Virginia |
|
18-11-3 |
411 |
14 |
15 |
Eastern
Michigan |
|
21-11-5 |
405 |
13 |
16 |
Stony
Brook |
|
25-7-0 |
377 |
16 |
17 |
Niagara |
|
23-8-0 |
285 |
17 |
18 |
Robert Morris (PA) |
|
18-10-3 |
260 |
19 |
19 |
Washington & Jefferson |
|
20-12-1 |
245 |
18 |
20 |
Central Oklahoma |
|
14-17-4 |
175 |
21 |
21 |
Slippery Rock |
|
17-12-2 |
154 |
20 |
22 |
Arizona |
|
20-8-1 |
120 |
23 |
23 |
Robert Morris (IL) |
|
12-22-0 |
117 |
22 |
24 |
Adrian |
|
17-17-0 |
106 |
24 |
25 |
Pittsburgh |
|
15-7-1 |
63 |
25 |
|
Others receiving votes: Rutgers, Duquesne,
Minot State, Navy, and Arizona State .
|
