Michigan hockey earns elite preseason ranking

The Michigan hockey season is almost here! With the first exhibition game approaching this weekend and the first regular-season series next week, new preseason rankings for college hockey are being released.

Michigan hockey ranked top 5 in first preseason poll of 2023-24

Today, the USCHO poll for Men’s Ice Hockey was released. As no surprise to anyone, the Michigan hockey team is ranked No. 5 nationally, pinning the Maize and Blue as the Big Ten’s second-highest-ranked program. Minnesota, which appeared in last year’s national title game, is ranked two spots ahead of the Wolverines at No. 3 nationally. The other four teams ranked above Michigan are Denver, Quinnipiac, and Boston University.

This upcoming season, Michigan hockey will be returning some key players, such as Gavin Brindley, Dylan Duke, and Seamus Casey, among others. There are also some incoming transfers who will make a huge impact, not to mention this year’s freshman class, which has some incredible talent.

While the Michigan hockey team did lose players such as Hobey Baker-winner Adam Fantilli, goaltender Eric Portillo, defensemen Luke Hughes, and star forward Mackie Samoskevich, the talent coming into this team — both new and returning — will bolster the team’s success.

Last season, Michigan hockey went 26-12-3 overall and won the Big Ten Tournament for the second year in a row. Not only that, but the Wolverines advanced to the Frozen Four for the second consecutive year.

With a young team in 2023-24, there will be growing pains, just as fans saw last season; however, with a talented team like the 2023-24 Michigan hockey team, many believe that the Maize and Blue will go far this winter.

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