LINK TO POLL

MINOT, N.D. – Off to a successful start to a new season, the Minot State men's hockey team finds itself holding firm at No. 4 in the ACHA's latest Division I national poll.

The Beavers, who are 4-0-1 this season with their only setback being an overtime loss at then-No. 9 Drury, earned 744 points in a coaches' poll released by the ACHA this week, the first regular-season poll this season.

Ohio, the defending national champions, remained No. 1 with 848 points and 34 first-place votes, while Adrian (Mich.) held onto the No. 2 spot with 807 points and 3 first-place votes, UNLV remained at No. 3 with 769 points, the Beavers were No. 4, and Niagara (N.Y.) moved up to No. 5 with 695 points and 1 first-place vote.

Minot State's in-state rivals. Jamestown and Mary, checked in at No. 9, as the Jimmies had 564 points, and No. 10, as the Marauders had 542 points.

Drury, who had that overtime win over Minot State, moved up to No. 8. Maryville, which the Beavers beat on the road last week, slipped from No. 10 to No. 12.

The ACHA Top 25 poll will be based on a coaches' vote for the remainder of October, then switch to a computer poll starting on November 4.

The 4^th-ranked Minot State Beavers are back on the ice this weekend at the Maysa Arena's Pepsi Rink, hosting Briercrest in exhibition games on Friday and Saturday, with puck drop at 7:30 p.m. each night.