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Minnesota Duluth will enter the 2026-27 season carrying some of the highest expectations in the National Collegiate Hockey Conference.
The Bulldogs were picked to finish third in the NCHC preseason media poll released Wednesday, receiving seven first-place votes and 273 points from a 33-member voting panel.
Defending NCAA champion Denver was picked first with 304 points and 14 first-place votes, narrowly edging defending NCHC regular-season champion North Dakota, which received 302 points and 12 first-place votes.
Minnesota Duluth was the only other team to receive a first-place vote.
The Bulldogs return much of the roster that finished 24-15-1 last season, reached the NCHC Frozen Faceoff championship game and advanced to an NCAA regional final.
UMD finished fourth in the NCHC regular-season standings at 11-12-1 but enters the new season with one of the league’s most accomplished returning groups.
Junior forward Max Plante, the 2026 Hobey Baker Award winner, headlines the Bulldogs and will serve as a co-captain with junior defenseman Ty Hanson.
Plante, his younger brother Zam Plante and Hanson were selected Tuesday to the six-player Preseason All-NCHC Team, giving Minnesota Duluth half of the preseason all-conference lineup.
The Bulldogs finished 31 points behind Denver and 29 behind North Dakota in Wednesday’s poll but comfortably ahead of fourth-place Western Michigan, which received 237 points.
Miami was picked fifth with 175 points, followed by Colorado College with 159.
St. Thomas, entering its first season in the NCHC, was picked seventh with 121 points. St. Cloud State was eighth with 102, Arizona State ninth with 73 and Omaha 10th with 69.
Denver enters the season as the defending national champion after closing last season on a 17-game unbeaten streak. The Pioneers finished 29-11-3 overall and 17-6-1 in conference play before winning both the NCHC Frozen Faceoff and NCAA championship.
Goaltender Johnny Hicks returns after setting an NCAA single-season save percentage record as a freshman and earning Most Outstanding Player honors at both the Frozen Faceoff and Frozen Four.
North Dakota also returns considerable firepower after winning the Penrose Cup and reaching the Frozen Four.
The Fighting Hawks finished 29-10-1 overall and 17-6-1 in the NCHC. Sophomore goaltender Jan Špunar, the reigning NCHC Goaltender of the Year, returns along with sophomore forward Cole Reschny and defenseman Keaton Verhoeff.
All three were named to the preseason all-conference team. Reschny will serve as North Dakota’s captain.
The preseason poll was determined by 33 ballots submitted by media members covering NCHC programs and selected national media. Teams received 10 points for a first-place vote, nine for second and continuing down to one point for 10th.
The NCHC will conduct virtual media days Sept. 22-23.
The conference’s 14th season begins Oct. 2, with NCHC league play opening Oct. 30.
2026-27 NCHC preseason media poll
- Denver — 304 points, 14 first-place votes
- North Dakota — 302, 12
- Minnesota Duluth — 273, 7
- Western Michigan — 237
- Miami — 175
- Colorado College — 159
- St. Thomas — 121
- St. Cloud State — 102
- Arizona State — 73
- Omaha — 69
