Penn State Opens the 2018-19 Campaign Ranked No. 16 in the USCHO.com Poll
GoPSUsports.com Release – https://gopsusports.com/news/2018/9/24/mens-ice-hockey-mens-hockey–preseason-uscho-poll.aspx
MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. – Following its second-straight trip to the NCAA Tournament, the Penn State men’s ice hockey team will open the 2018-19 season ranked No. 16 in the Preseason USCHO.com poll released Monday afternoon.
This marks the second-consecutive season the Nittany Lions have earned a preseason ranking after opening the 2017-18 season at No. 10 in the polls. Penn State went 18-15-5 last year finishing at No. 13 in both major polls.
The Big Ten as a whole has five teams ranked in the preseason poll for 2018-19 with Notre Dame, Ohio State and Michigan staying right where they ended last season at No. 2, 3 and 4, respectively. Minnesota jumps five spots to No. 13 after earning a No. 18 final ranking in 2017-18 while the Nittany Lions slide three spots to No. 16.
Reigning National Champion Minnesota-Duluth remains atop the rankings receiving 44 of the 50 first place votes while Notre Dame, Ohio State and Michigan each received two. The Big Ten and NCHC see five teams each in the top-20 while Hockey East has four and both the ECAC and WCHA have three.
Along with the other four Big Ten teams ranked to begin the season, Penn State will face two other teams who appear in the preseason rankings as both Clarkson (No. 17) and Princeton (No. 14) make trips to Hockey Valley during the month of October.
Your first chance to see the Nittany Lions in action will be during our International Game against Brock on October 6 with tickets to the general public available for only $5 and can be purchased HERE! Students with a valid Penn State ID will be allowed to enter free of charge. This game is being billed as a Saturday Power Play with the men’s exhibition starting just 50 minutes following the conclusion of the women’s game against Merrimack.
