ACHA Division I Men's Hockey Vaults to Top Spot for First Time - WICU12/WSEE Erie, PA News, Sports, Weather and Events

ACHA Division I Men's Hockey Vaults to Top Spot for First Time

UNION LAKE, MICH. – For the first time in school history, the Adrian College Bulldogs are the #1 ranked team in the country, vaulting up three spots in the polls to claim the top spot in the 2012-2013 ACHA Men's Division 1 Ranking #14.

Adrian, which just clinched the Regular Season Championship of the Great Lakes Collegiate Hockey League and an autobid to the 2013 ACHA Men's Division 1 National Championships, received 17 out of 44 first-place votes to supplant Arizona State after eight consecutive weeks atop the polls. The Sun Devils dropped down to #2 this week but still received 12 first-place votes in a divided poll, which also saw #3 Minot State receive 11 first-place votes.

The top three spots were separated by a mere 18 points. #4 Robert Morris Illinois fumbled its opportunity to potentially take over the top spot after getting swept on the road by Ohio University at Bird Arena in Athens, Ohio. The Eagles still managed to secure the other four first-place votes, while #5 Ohio inched up a spot to round out the top five.

In the bottom half of the Top 10, Oklahoma dropped a spot to #6, while #7 Lindenwood, #8 Davenport, #9 Illinois, and #10 Liberty were all unchanged from last week's ranking.
 
Elsewhere, the defending ACHA Men's Division 1 National Champions from Delaware jumped up two spots to #14 while the University of Michigan-Dearborn makes it season debut in the polls, coming in at #25.

Over the past ten seasons, 8 different schools have won the ACHA Men's Division 1 National Championship: Lindenwood (2), Illinois (2), Davenport, Delaware, Oakland, Ohio, Penn State, and Rhode Island.

The 2013 ACHA Men's Division I National Championships will be hosted March 1-6 by Robert Morris University, Illinois at The Edge Ice Arena in Bensenville, Illinois. This will be the second year of the 20-team format.