Sport: College Sports Country: United States Category: Scores & Results

Denver narrowly tops UND in NCHC preseason poll

Yahoo Sports • 1 min read • Latest: Sep 17, 2026, 12:31 AM

Last updated Sep 17, 2026

College Sports

Summary

Denver has been selected as the favorite to win the Penrose Cup in the 2026-27 season, edging out North Dakota in the NCHC's preseason poll. The Pioneers received 14 first-place votes and 304 points, while UND garnered 12 first-place votes for a total of 302 points. Denver boasts a strong roster, including seven of its top nine forwards from last season and a revamped defense featuring four first-round NHL Draft picks. Minnesota Duluth placed third in the poll with 273 points and seven first-place votes. The voting included 33 media members covering the National Collegiate Hockey Conference. UND won the Penrose Cup last season under head coach Dane Jackson, with three players named to the NCHC's preseason all-conference team.

Source Links

Yahoo Sports

Status Watch

•Denver received 14 first-place votes and 304 total points
•UND earned 12 first-place votes and 302 points
•Minnesota Duluth finished third with 273 points
•Denver is led by goaltender Johnny Hicks, who is 16-0-1
•UND's players Cole Reschny, Keaton Verhoeff, and Jan Špunar made the preseason all-conference team

Latest Updates

12:31 AMYahoo Sports — Denver edges UND in preseason NCHC poll

What they're saying

"
Sep. 16—GRAND FORKS — Denver still has not lost a hockey game with Johnny Hicks in net. Hicks is 16-0-1. He's got an NCAA national championship ring. In front of him, seven of Denver's top-nine scoring forwards are back from last year's squad, while its overhauled blue line features four freshmen taken in the top two rounds of the NHL Draft. With that talent at coach David Carle's disposal, ...
— Yahoo Sports

Related Teams & Leagues

College Sports