Denver Ranks No. 3 and No. 5 in National Polls

DENVER – The University of Denver hockey team ranks No. 3 and No. 5 in the nation in the two national polls after the latest rankings were released on Monday. The Pioneers are No. 3 in the USA Today/USA Hockey Magazine poll and No. 5 on USCHO.com.

Denver dropped from No. 3 in the USCHO.com poll after falling in both of its games last weekend at then-No. 4 St. Cloud State, losing 7-3 on Friday and 2-0 on Saturday. SCSU is the new No. 1 team in both national polls following the sweep.

The Pioneers hold a one-point edge over Quinnipiac to stay in third place in the USA Today/USA Hockey Magazine poll (601-600), while Quinnipiac (third) and Boston University (fourth) are ahead of them in the USCHO.com poll. Minnesota comes in at No. 2 in both polls.

DU has been in the top five all season and ranked No. 3 in each ranking last week.

In the Pairwise computer rankings that determine the field for the national tournament, Denver presently ranks fifth overall behind Minnesota, St. Cloud State, Penn State and Quinnipiac.

The NCHC has three schools in the rankings, with Western Michigan joining Denver and St. Cloud State at No. 9 in the two national voting polls. Omaha and North Dakota also received votes in both polls.

UP NEXT: The Pioneers have a one-game weekend on tap as they host rival Colorado College on Friday at 7 p.m. at Ball Arena in downtown Denver. The teams conclude the first half of their gold pan series the following Saturday, Feb. 4, in Colorado Springs.

About the USCHO.com Poll: The rankings are compiled weekly and consists of 50 voters, including coaches and media professionals from across the country.

About the USA Today/USA Hockey Magazine Poll: The rankings are conducted each week in conjunction with the American Hockey Coaches Association. The poll includes input from coaches and journalists representing each of the six NCAA Division I ice hockey conferences, as well as composite votes from officers of the AHCA and USA Hockey.