5 Things You May Not Have Noticed About Latest College Hockey Polls: Puck Drop

1. USCHO.com Rankings, Week 4
2. USA Hockey Rankings, Week 4
3. Women's USCHO.com Rankings, Week 6
4. Puck Drop: Tuesday, October 20, 2026
5. College Hockey Scores
6. Today’s College Hockey Schedule
7. This Date in Hockey History
8. Hockey Quote of the Day
9. We'll Leave You With This ...

To the absolute surprise of no one, Michigan was voted No. 1 in both major college hockey polls on Monday after the Wolverines swept reigning national champion Denver on the Pioneers’ home ice over the weekend.

They were a unanimous selection in the USA Hockey Rankings, but not the USCHO.com poll, which saw two voters opt for Michigan State. Meanwhile, the Pioneers fell to No. 4 in both rankings.

The change was not in doubt. The same thing happened the previous week on the women’s side as Ohio State swept Wisconsin, only the Buckeyes had home ice. Here are five things from the latest polls that might surprise you.

1) Dating back to March 2025, one of the Michigan schools (Michigan, Michigan State or Northern Michigan) has been No. 1 in the USCHO.com poll all but five times, 28 out of 33. Denver was at No. 1 in the first three rankings of this season, plus the final poll last season. Boston University had it for a week early last season only to miss playing in the NCAA Tournament.

2) Hockey East leads the nation with seven ranked teams, but only one is in the top 14 of either poll. The last six teams in the USCHO.com top 20 are from the conference.

3) Here’s the kind of respect that Dave Hakstol commands: Last week, Arizona State didn’t get a single vote in either ranking. After his hiring and the sweep at Lowell, the Sun Devils received 22 in one poll, and 16 in the other.  

4) The only schools with teams ranked on both the men’s and women’s side are Wisconsin, Quinnipiac, Connecticut and Northeastern. Among those that at least received votes in both was Vermont.

5) Among the six Ivy League schools that play women’s hockey, three are ranked in the top 15 and a fourth received votes. It may not be ready to take on the NCHC, but the combined 10-0 start is still really impressive, and No. 14 Yale has yet to open its regular season.  

USCHO.com Rankings, Week 4

Others receiving votes: Union 47, Maine 43, RPI 42, Miami 35, Sacred Heart 28, Arizona State 22, Bowling Green 16, Ohio State 16, St. Cloud State 16, Army 12, Stonehill 12, Minnesota 10, New Hampshire 6, St. Thomas 5, Clarkson 4, Lindenwood 4, Notre Dame 3, Bemidji State 1, Brown 1, Niagara 1, Vermont 1

USA Hockey Rankings, Week 4

Others Receiving Votes: Maine 24; Arizona State 16; Sacred Heart 15; RPI, 13; Union 13; Clarkson 9; Harvard 9; Miami, 9; Stonehill 9; Minnesota State 7; Minnesota, 6; Bowling Green 4; Ohio State 3.

Women's USCHO.com Rankings, Week 6

Others receiving votes: Boston College 9, Syracuse 6, Mercyhurst 4, Minnesota State 4, Harvard 3, St. Thomas 3

Puck Drop: Tuesday, October 20, 2026

• The Arizona Republic reported that the agreement between Arizona State and Greg Powers will net the coach more than $1.3 million. Powers was placed on administrative leave after a workout left sophomore transfer Matthew Mayich on life support. Meanwhile, Clarkson announced that its players will wear special helmet stickers to honor their former teammate.

• Left wing Brady Tkachuk (Boston University) was named the First Star of the Week in the NHL, ahead of center Connor McDavid and left wing Kirill Kaprizov. He had two natural hat tricks, and Florida became the first team in league history to register a natural hat trick in three straight games. Wednesday night he’ll lead the Panthers to face his old team, the Ottawa Senators.

• The first matchup of first-overall draft picks between Macklin Celebrini (Boston University) and Gavin McKenna (Penn State) when to the younger young standout as the Maple Leafs defeated the visiting Sharks 3-1. McKenna’s goal was the game-winner. The No. 1 selection in 2024 and 2026 trained together during the offseason.

• If you’re looking for something to break on the Connor Hellebuyck (Lowell) situation, things may be coming to a head this week. Sportsnet reported the end date for Hellebuyck’s suspension for not reporting is Friday, meaning at that point the Jets have to pay him.

• Talk about a full-circle moment, Cole Knuble (Notre Dame) made his NHL debut for the same team his father, Mike Knuble, played for, the Flyers. He didn’t figure in the scoring, but Philadelphia defeated Colorado 3-2. Jospeh Woll (Boston College) made 24 saves to get the win, while T.J. Hughes (Michigan) scored his second career goal the Avalanche. Cole Knuble was born on the day his dad signed with the Flyers.

• Canada announced a shakeup of its national team roster that will play in 2026 IIHF Women’s World Championship, Nov. 6-16 in Herning and Esbjerg, Denmark. After going with a veteran roster that included no active college players for the Olympics, the youth movement includes six players still in the NCAA: G Eve Gascon (UMD), D Chloe Primerano (Minnesota), F Caitlin Kraemer (Minnesota), F Sara Manness (Clarkson), F Hayley McDonald (Ohio State), and F Rosalie Tremblay (Wisconsin). Team USA’s camp begins Friday. The U.S and Canada will square off in pre-tournament games at Windsor, Ontario (Oct. 28), and Plymouth, Michigan (Oct. 30).

• Defenseman William Jesse Tucker out of Eden Prairie, Minn., committed to Yale. … Goaltender Cole Pouliot-Porter from the Boston Jr. Terriers (NCDC) committed to Franklin Pierce. … F Trace Frieden from Cowichan Valley (BCHL) committed to Michigan Tech.

College Hockey Scores

No games scheduled

Hockey Quote of the Day

“Everyone talks about athleticism in goalies and I don’t think that their view of athleticism is the be-all and end-all. They always talk about, ‘Oh he’s so athletic, he can make a save any way,’ but the thing is, he doesn’t need to. If you keep yourself in position, you give yourself a chance at all times to make the save as opposed to being able to dive around and do the splits.”

Connor Hellebuyck

We'll Leave You With This ...

— The views expressed in Christopher Walsh’s opinion part of Puck Drop are his own and do not necessarily reflect ON SI, Sports Illustrated or digital partner Minute.   

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