Denver Comes in at No. 5 in USA Hockey/The Rink Live Preseason Poll

DENVER – The University of Denver hockey team ranked No. 5 in the country in the USA Hockey/The Rink Live preseason poll that was released on Monday.
 
The Pioneers received 548 points in the poll, 69 more than fifth-place Boston College (479). Michigan, who DU is ahead of in the USCHO.com poll jumped the Pioneers in this ranking with 28 more points (574).
 
Boston University enters the season ranked No. 1 in the country with 655 points and 16 first-place votes, while reigning national champion Quinnipiac is third with 627 points and 12 first-place nods. Minnesota owns six first-place tallies and ranks second with three more points than the Bobcats with 630 points.
 
Denver ended last season ranked No. 6 in the USA Hockey Poll after finishing with a 30-10-0 record, reaching consecutive 30-win campaigns for the first time in program history (31-9-1 in 2021-22). The Pioneers also won their second straight Penrose Cup as NCHC regular-season champions after going 19-5-0 in conference play. Their 19 wins set a school record in the NCHC (since 2013-14) and marked their most conference victories since going 19-5-4 in 2009-10 in the WCHA.
 
Overall the NCHC had five teams ranked—the second-most among all conferences behind the Big Ten (six)—and had the most in the top 10 with four (four). St. Cloud State is the next…