Grand Forks – The University of North Dakota hockey program has been picked to finish third in the 2025-26 NCHC Preseason Media Poll, as announced by the league office on Thursday.
 
Reigning league regular season and postseason champions Western Michigan sit atop the poll for the first time in program history, collecting 19 of the 30 first-place votes to total 252 points in the poll. Denver is picked second with 225 points and four first-place votes, while UND is just behind in third with 220 points, including five first-place votes.
 
The Fighting Hawks are set to enter a new era in 2025-26, as Dane Jackson begins his first season behind the bench as head coach. Jackson also overhauled the roster, bringing in a total of 15 new players (10 freshmen, 5 transfers) to compliment returners that include NCHC Preseason All-Conference Team selection Jake Livanavage, first round pick EJ Emery as well as senior forwards Dylan James and Ben Strinden.
 
Highlighted in those 10 freshmen include forward Cole Reschny, who was selected 18th overall by the Calgary Flames this past summer, USHL Player of the Year and USHL Forward of the Year Will Zellers, top prospect defenseman Keaton Verhoeff and 2025 fifth-round selection Sam Laurila. You can read about the entire incoming freshman class here.
 
UND also brought in a handful of transfers, including former Arizona State standout netminder Gibson Homer, one of the top returning scorers in the NCHC from Minnesota Duluth Anthony Menghini, All-ECAC selection Ellis Rickwood from Clarkson, Minnesota Duluth netminder Zach Sandy and bruising forward Tyler Young from Merrimack.
 
A total of 30 ballots were submitted by local media members from each school, as well as select national media. Points were awarded on a descending scale with a first-place vote worth nine points, a second-place vote worth eight points and so on.
 
While the NCHC will not hold an in-person Media Day in 2025, media will be able to speak with coaches and players from each team via video call during the NCHC’s virtual Media Days on Sept. 23-24. Commissioner Heather Weems’ State of the Conference address will be posted to NCHC.tv following virtual Media Days.
 
2025-26 NCHC Preseason Media Poll
1. Western Michigan, 252 points (19 first-place votes)
2. Denver, 225 (4)
3. North Dakota, 220 (5)
4. Arizona State, 180 (2)
5. Colorado College, 128
6. Minnesota Duluth, 120
7. Omaha, 110
8. St. Cloud State, 80
9. Miami, 35