Div 1 Men's Hockey Rankings
The NCAA Division 1 men's hockey rankings are a highly anticipated event for college hockey fans every season. The rankings are a way for fans to see where their favorite teams stand among their peers and the competition. In this article, we will delve into the details of the Div 1 Men's Hockey Rankings, the top teams to keep an eye on, and what it takes for a team to make the list.
What are the Div 1 Men's Hockey Rankings?
The Div 1 Men's Hockey Rankings is a weekly ranking system of the top 20 men's ice hockey teams in the country, as voted on by a panel of coaches, members of the media and college hockey writers. The rankings are released every Tuesday during the season and take into account a team's wins, losses, ties, and strength of schedule.
The Top Teams in the Div 1 Men's Hockey Rankings
One of the teams that have consistently been on the top of the Div 1 Men's Hockey Rankings is the University of North Dakota. They are a regular contender for the national championship and have won it eight times. Another team to keep an eye on is Boston College, who has been successful in recent years and has won the championship five times.
The University of Minnesota has also been a dominant force in college hockey, with seven national championships, and they consistently place in the top 20 of the Div 1 Men's Hockey Rankings. Other successful teams include the University of Denver, Michigan State University, and the University of Wisconsin.
How are the Div 1 Men's Hockey Rankings Determined?
The Div 1 Men's Hockey Rankings are determined by a group of 50 voters made up of coaches, members of the media, and college hockey writers. Each voter submits their top 20 teams, and the rankings are determined by a points system. A first-place vote is worth 20 points, a second-place vote is worth 19 points, and so on. The team with the most points at the end of the voting period is ranked first, and so on down the list.
The voting is based on a team's performance in the previous week, with games played from Monday to Sunday taken into account. The strength of a team's schedule is also factored into the rankings, with wins against high-ranked teams worth more points than wins against lower-ranked teams.
What Does it Take for a Team to Make the Div 1 Men's Hockey Rankings?
For a team to make the Div 1 Men's Hockey Rankings, they need to have a winning record and a solid strength of schedule. Teams that have a lot of wins against quality opponents are more likely to rank higher than those with weak schedules or bad records.
Teams that consistently perform well throughout the season and have a good showing in the conference tournament and the NCAA championship have a better chance of being ranked higher in the final rankings. Winning the national championship is the ultimate goal and can give a team a boost in the rankings.
Conclusion
The Div 1 Men's Hockey Rankings are a key indicator of a team's success in the NCAA hockey season. The weekly rankings allow fans to keep track of their favorite teams and see how they stack up against the competition. With a points system that takes into account a team's wins, losses, ties, and strength of schedule, the rankings remain one of the most accurate ways to measure a team's success.