The Fighting Sioux went 24-15-4 overall in 2008-09 and captured the MacNaughton Cup as WCHA regular season champions with a 17-7-4 conference record. Earlier this month, UND was ranked eighth in the preseason 2009-10 USA Today/USA Hockey Magazine poll.

Fellow-WCHA member Denver is the top-ranked team with 20 first-place votes and 873 total points. Defending NCAA champion Boston University received seven first-place votes and is ranked No. 2.

No. 3 Michigan, No. 4 Miami and No. 5 Notre Dame received the remaining first-place votes and round out the top five.

UND and DU are two of six WCHA teams ranked among the top 20, joining No. 9 Minnesota, No. 13 Wisconsin, No. 15 St. Cloud State and No. 18 Minnesota Duluth.

The Sioux, who skated to a 7-1 exhibition victory over Manitoba last night in Grand Forks, will open the regular season Oct. 9-10 against visiting Merrimack in non-conference action at Engelstad Arena.

USCHO.com/CBS College Sports Poll
1. Denver
2. Boston University
3. Michigan
4. Miami
5. Notre Dame
6. North Dakota
7. Cornell
8. Yale
9. Minnesota
10. Princeton
11. Mass.-Lowell
12. Boston College
13. Wisconsin
14. Vermont
15. St. Cloud State
16. New Hampshire
17. Ohio State
18. Minnesota Duluth
19. Air Force
20. Northeastern

Others Receiving Votes: Northern Michigan 72, Bemidji State 66, Harvard 35, Colorado College 25, St. Lawrence 23, Massachusetts 17, Minnesota State 11, Clarkson 10, RIT 10, Mercyhurst, 6, Union 4, Alaska 1, Alaska Anchorage 1, Dartmouth 1, Ferris State 1, Maine 1, Quinnipiac 1.