D3 Men's Ice Hockey Rankings
College hockey has been a staple of American sports since the inception of the NCAA. With so many teams to choose from, it can be tough to keep up with the action. That's why the D3 Men's Ice Hockey Rankings are so important. These rankings track the best teams in the country and provide fans with a guide to the top contenders going into each season. In this article, we'll take a deep dive into the rankings, how they're calculated, and what they mean for college hockey fans.
What are the D3 Men's Ice Hockey Rankings?
The D3 Men's Ice Hockey Rankings are a list of the top 20 Division III men's college hockey teams in the country. The rankings are compiled by a group of coaches and media members who vote on the teams each week. The rankings usually come out on Mondays during the regular season and are a good indicator of which teams are playing well and which teams are struggling. The rankings are also used to help determine which teams make the NCAA tournament at the end of the season.
How are the rankings calculated?
The rankings are calculated using a points system. Each voter ranks the top 20 teams in the country, with the top-ranked team receiving 20 points, the second-ranked team receiving 19 points, and so on down to the 20th-ranked team receiving one point. The points are then added up, and the teams are ranked based on the total number of points they receive. The rankings are updated each week based on the previous week's results.
Who are the top teams in the rankings?
As of the most recent rankings, the top five teams in the country are:
- St. Norbert College
- Norwich University
- University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point
- Trinity College (CT)
- Salve Regina University
What do the rankings mean for the NCAA tournament?
The rankings play a big role in determining which teams make the NCAA tournament at the end of the season. The top 10 teams in the rankings automatically qualify for the tournament, with the remaining six spots being awarded to conference champions. The rankings also determine the seeding for the tournament, with the top-ranked team being the number one seed and so on down the line. This makes the rankings incredibly important for teams hoping to make a deep run in the national tournament.
Conclusion
The D3 Men's Ice Hockey Rankings are an essential tool for college hockey fans. They provide a guide to the top teams in the country and help determine which teams make the NCAA tournament. Whether you're a die-hard fan or just getting into the sport, the rankings are a great way to stay up to date with all the action on the ice.
