LINK TO MEN'S POLL                    LINK TO WOMEN'S POLL

MINOT, N.D. – The Minot State men's and women's hockey teams begin conference tournament play this weekend locked in at their current national rankings with the Beaver men still No. 1 and the Beaver women still No. 6.

The No. 6-ranked Minot State women (22-8-1 overall) open the Women's Midwest Collegiate Hockey (WMCH) Tournament today in Illinois playing rival and No. 5-ranked Midland at 11 a.m. in the quarterfinals.

The semifinals are Friday at 2:30 and 6 p.m., and Saturday's title game is slated for 1 p.m. The tournament is hosted by McKendree.

The top 5 in the ACHA Division I women's poll remained unchanged heading into the postseason with Liberty (Va.) at No. 1 followed by Adrian (Mich.) at No. 2, Maryville (Mo.) at No. 3, McKendree (Ill.) at No. 4, and Midland (Neb.) at No. 5.

Liberty, Maryville, McKendree, Midland, and Minot State all will be battling for the WMCH Tournament title this weekend.

The top 5 remained unchanged on the men's side, as well, with the Beavers (33-4-1) at No. 1 followed by UNLV at No. 2, Ohio – who Minot State beat 6-5 in a shootout and 3-2 over the weekend – at No. 3, Liberty at No. 4, and Jamestown at No. 5.

Minot State opens play at its first-ever Midwest Collegiate Hockey (MCH) Tournament on Friday, playing Iowa State in the quarterfinals in Illinois. The semifinals are Saturday at 4:30 and 7:30 p.m., and the title game is set for 1 p.m. on Sunday. Illinois State is hosting the tournament.

Also in action at the MCH Tournament and ranked in the current ACHA Division I men's poll are No. 5 Jamestown and No. 13 Mary.