UNION LAKE, MI – The University of Mary men's hockey team opens the 2026-27 season ranked 11
th in the American College Hockey Association Men's Division Preseason Coaches' Ranking.
The ranking matches the Marauders finish in the final ACHA computer rankings from last season. UMary opened the 2025-26 year at No. 14 in the preseason coaches' poll.
UMary plays 22 of its 31 ACHA MD1 games against nationally-ranked teams.
The Marauders, who set a program ACHA MD1 record for wins in a season, finished last year with a mark of 27-14-0-0-0-1 (W-L-OTL-T-SOW-SOL) overall.
The 10
th seed at the ACHA MD1 2026 ACHA national tournament, UMary opened the championships with a win to remain undefeated in the opening round of ACHA national tournaments (6-0).
The computer ranking commences November 4 and will determine the 24 teams that qualify for the 2027 ACHA Men's Division I National Championships, which also includes nine auto-bids for conference champions. The first ranking of the regular season will be released on Wednesday, October 7.
The 2027 ACHA Men's Division I National Championships presented by FloHockey will be hosted March 11-16 at the Centene Community Ice Center in Maryland Heights, Mo.
Head Coach Dan Huntley, entering his ninth season as the Marauders head coach, has led UMary to all 266 program wins and owns 362 collegiate wins as a head coach.
The Marauders return 16 players, including 2026 All-Midwest College Hockey 2
nd team forward
Dain Sardelli, MCH all-rookie team selection
Isaac Flatley and ACHA MD1 All-tournament performer
Will Falconer.
Sardelli is the Marauders leading returning scorer with 19 goals, including seven game-winners.
Joe Gronholz and Sardelli both had 38 points in 40 games prior to the ACHA tournament. Gronholz (16 goals),
David Loahr (14),
Hunter Mangan (13) and Flatley (12) are all back after reaching double digits in goals.
The Marauders also return both of their goaltenders.
Caleb Cross finished with 20 wins and four shutouts with a 2.24 goals against average and a 92.7 save percentage.
Zane Clausen had one shutout with a 2.68 goals against average and a 91.3 save percentage.
UMary makes its public debut with an exhibition game at home on Saturday, September 12, with a 2 pm game against the Aberdeen (SD) Wings of the North American Hockey League (NAHL). The Wings advanced to the NAHL division finals last season and finished with a record of 37-16-4-2.
Tickets for the Marauders-Wings game at the Starion Sports Complex Schwan Cadillac Rink is available online at
www.UMaryTickets.com and at the door.
| 2026-2027 ACHA Men's Division I Preseason Ranking |
| Rank |
School Name |
1st Votes |
25-26 M1 Record |
Pts |
Previous |
Conference |
|
| 1 |
Ohio |
25 |
32-6-0 |
741 |
1 |
INDEP |
|
| 2 |
Adrian |
4 |
30-7-2 |
697 |
2 |
GL6 |
|
| 3 |
Nevada-Las Vegas |
1 |
27-4-2 |
683 |
3 |
WCHL |
|
| 4 |
Minot State |
3 |
28-2-2 |
662 |
5 |
INDEP |
|
| 5 |
Calvin |
|
23-9-2 |
608 |
4 |
GL6 |
|
| 6 |
Niagara |
1 |
25-5-0 |
606 |
6 |
ACCHL |
|
| 7 |
Liberty |
|
19-11-2 |
578 |
7 |
INDEP |
|
| 8 |
Jamestown |
|
22-12-0 |
502 |
11 |
MCH |
|
| 9 |
Drury |
|
23-4-1 |
496 |
9 |
INDEP |
|
| 10 |
Maryville |
|
14-11-1 |
454 |
8 |
INDEP |
|
| 11 |
Mary |
|
24-14-1 |
446 |
10 |
MCH |
|
| 12 |
Grand Canyon |
|
23-8-1 |
427 |
12 |
WCHL |
|
| 13 |
Utah |
|
16-10-1 |
374 |
13 |
WCHL |
|
| 14 |
Hope |
|
26-9-0 |
359 |
15 |
GL6 |
|
| 15 |
Arizona |
|
14-10-4 |
331 |
14 |
WCHL |
|
| 16 |
Missouri State |
|
16-9-5 |
287 |
16 |
WCHL |
|
| 17 |
Purdue Northwest |
|
15-16-2 |
251 |
18 |
GL6 |
|
| 18 |
Stony Brook |
|
17-14-3 |
218 |
17 |
ACCHL |
|
| 19 |
Grand Valley State |
|
17-14-2 |
187 |
21 |
GL6 |
|
| 20 |
Midland |
|
7-19-6 |
145 |
19 |
MCH |
|
| 21 |
Indiana Pennsylvania |
|
27-4-4 |
116 |
20 |
CHMA |
|
| 22 |
West Chester |
|
25-9-1 |
98 |
22 |
ECHA |
|
| 23 |
Northwood |
|
25-9-2 |
94 |
25 |
GLCHL |
|
| 24 |
Davenport |
|
18-17-5 |
84 |
24 |
GL6 |
|
| 25 |
Illinois |
|
20-7-4 |
60 |
23 |
INDEP |
|
Others receiving votes: Rhode Island, Indiana Tech, Delaware, Pittsburgh, Arizona State, Toledo, Kentucky, Lawrence Tech, and Western Michigan.
#marauders#
