The Northern Collegiate Hockey Association (NCHA) once again proved its national relevance in the latest USCHO Division III Men's Poll, released on November 24. The league maintains three teams in the top four, with the national rankings largely unchanged despite Aurora and St. Norbert splitting its series.
Aurora remains at No. 2 nationally, securing 268 points with a 7-1-0 record. The Spartans protected their standing by splitting a critical home-and-home series against No. 3 St. Norbert. The Spartans secured a crucial 3-0 shutout victory on Friday night, but then stumbled on Saturday, falling 5-3 in a hard-fought contest. The split marked Aurora’s first loss of the season but keeps them firmly in the discussion for the nation’s top spot.
St. Norbert held steady at No. 3 nationally. The Green Knights (7-2-0) earned 258 points, showcasing resilience after their Friday loss to Aurora by delivering a 5-3 comeback victory on Saturday. This decisive win ensured the Green Knights walked away with a split, preventing Aurora from gaining full control in the conference standings.
Adrian stayed at No. 4 nationally, earning 237 points and improving their record to 6-2-0. The Bulldogs successfully rebounded from the previous weekend’s sweep by dominating their conference series against Lawrence. Adrian posted commanding victories, winning 8-1 on Friday and 7-3 on Saturday. These results ensured the NCHA continues to occupy the No. 2, No. 3, and No. 4 spots in the country.
Trine saw a small dip in the rankings, dropping one spot to No. 12 nationally with 72 points. The Thunder (5-2-1) played a challenging two-game series against MSOE, another team receiving votes. Trine earned a point on Friday with a 2-2 tie (winning the shootout), but suffered a 6-3 loss to MSOE on Saturday. Despite the mixed results, Trine remains closely positioned to break back into the top 10.
MSOE also garnered attention by receiving votes in the national poll. The Raiders (6-2-1) proved their strength by taking three out of four possible conference points against No. 12 Trine. After battling to a 2-2 tie on Friday night, the Raiders secured a 6-3 victory on Saturday.
USCHO Men's Poll (November 17)
2. Aurora (229 points - 1 first-place vote)
3. St. Norbert (261 points)
4. Adrian (242 points)
11. Trine (99 points)
USCHO Men's Poll (November 10)
2. Adrian (276 points)
3. Aurora (257 points)
4. St. Norbert (211 points)
11. Trine (95 points)
USCHO Men's Poll (November 3)
3. Adrian (252 points)
4. Aurora (237 points)
6. St. Norbert (195 points)
11. Trine (82 points)
USCHO Men's Poll (October 13)
5. St. Norbert (217 points)
6. Aurora (212 poitns)
7. Trine (173 points)
10. Adrian (119 points)