The latest USCHO Division III Men’s Poll, released on February 2, captured the fallout of a weekend defined by high-drama within the Northern Collegiate Hockey Association (NCHA). While Aurora saw its grip on the No. 2 spot slip following a split with Trine, Adrian emerged as the big winner of the weekend, leaping back into the top-4 after a statement performance against rival St. Norbert.

?Aurora (18-3-0, 11-3-0) dropped to No. 3 this week after receiving 263 points. The Spartans faced a stern test in a road split with Trine. On Friday, Aurora’s nine-game winning streak came to an end in a 4-2 loss where they were outshot 37-26. However, the Spartans showed championship resolve on Saturday, rebounding with a 2-0 shutout victory fueled by Matt O'Donnell’s 33 saves. Despite the split, Aurora remains the highest-ranked West region team in the poll.

Adrian (15-5-1, 11-2-1 NCHA) was the week’s primary mover, jumping two spots to No. 4 in the nation. The Bulldogs played well when needed during a crucial road series in De Pere, Wis., taking five of six possible NCHA points from St. Norbert. Adrian took the opener 4-1 on Friday behind 35 saves from Ryan Piros and followed it up with a thrilling 2-2 tie on Saturday, eventually securing the difference with a shootout victory. The Bulldogs now hold a five-point lead in the NCHA standings and have officially clinched a home playoff series.

St. Norbert (13-6-2, 9-3-2 NCHA) maintained its position at No. 5, with 192 points received. The Green Knights struggled to find the net in the Friday, 4-1, loss against Adrian but showed significant grit on Saturday. They erased a late deficit to force a tie against the Bulldogs. While they lost the shootout, the point gained keeps them in the hunt atop the league standings.

Trine (13-6-2, 9-3-2 NCHA) moved down one spot to No. 13 this week after receiving 73 points. It was a move largely dictated by Bowdoin’s jump in the rankings rather than the Thunder’s own performance. Trine’s weekend was highlighted by an impressive 4-2 defeat of Aurora on Friday night, a game in which freshman Brody Simko scored just 36 seconds into the contest. The Thunder were unable to complete the sweep on Saturday, falling 2-0.

As the regular season winds down, the NCHA continues to boast four of the top 13 teams in the country, setting the stage for what promises to be a memorable finish to the season.

USCHO Men's Poll (January 26)
2. Aurora (276 points)
5. St. Norbert (210 points)
6. Adrian (193 points)
12. Trine (65 points)

USCHO Men's Poll (January 19)
2. Aurora (278 points)
5. St. Norbert (209 points)
6. Adrian (205 points)
14. Trine (34 points)

USCHO Men's Poll (January 12)
2. Aurora (279 points)
3. St. Norbert (242 points)
6. Adrian (189 points)
15. Trine (22 points)

USCHO Men's Poll (January 5)
2. Aurora (276 points)
3. Adrian (229 points)
4. St. Norbert (226 points)
RV Trine (18 points)

USCHO Men's Poll (December 8)
2. Adrian (241 points)
3. St. Norbert (239 points)
4. Aurora (237 points)
12. Trine (82 points)

USCHO Men's Poll (December 1)
2. Aurora (279 points)
3. Adrian (241 points)
5. St. Norbert (217 points)
10. Trine (102 points)

USCHO Men's Poll (November 24)
2. Aurora (268 points)
3. St. Norbert (258 points)
4. Adrian (237 points)
11. Trine (72 points)
RV MSOE (8 points)

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)