ADRIAN, Mich. — The Northern Collegiate Hockey Association (NCHA) has released the results of the 2026-27 Men's Hockey Coaches' Preseason Poll, pointing toward another fiercely contested battle across the conference.
Familiar powerhouses St. Norbert, Adrian, Aurora and Trine were atop the poll, with St. Norbert and Adrian each capturing four first-place votes, to go along with 92 and 90 points, respectively. Aurora had two first-place votes and 86 points, while Trine had 71 points.
MSOE was in fifth with 53 points and Concordia Wisconsin in sixth with 50 points. Marian (36 points) and Dubuque (35 points) landed seventh and eighth, respectively, while Lake Forest (21 points) and Lawrence (16 points) completed the 10-team preseason projection.
The regular season is scheduled to begin Friday, October 30, with nine teams opening with non-conference matchups. NCHA play officially begins on Friday, November 13 with the entire league competing throughout the weekend.
The NCHA regular season standings will determine the eight teams that qualify for the Harris Cup Playoffs. The tournament champion receives the league’s automatic bid to the NCAA Division III Championship.
| Team |
Points |
| 1. St. Norbert |
92 (4) |
| 2. Adrian |
90 (4) |
| 3. Aurora |
86 (2) |
| 4. Trine |
71 |
| 5. MSOE |
53 |
| 6. Concordia Wisconsin |
50 |
| 7. Marian |
36 |
| 8. Dubuque |
35 |
| 9. Lake Forest |
21 |
| 10. Lawrence |
16 |
() - First-place votes