Team News

After sweeping UNLV by scores of 6-2 and 5-2 scores on its home ice this past weekend, Liberty University’s ACHA Division I men’s hockey team traded places with the Skatin’ Rebels (7-5) in Wednesday’s computer rankings, ascending to the No. 2 spot while dropping UNLV to No. 4. Minot State (11-0), a team that swept Liberty in Minot, N.D., in early October, stayed atop the rankings while Adrian College (14-2-1) remained at No. 3. Defending ACHA DI national champion Central Oklahoma still occupies the No. 5 position.

The Flames (12-5) split their series with the 2021 national champion Bulldogs, Oct. 14-15 in Adrian, Mich. The first time Liberty rose to the No. 2 rank was in 2020 after sweeping then-No. 1 Adrian at the LaHaye Ice Center. The Flames went on to win their third consecutive ESCHL Tournament title that year before COVID-19 canceled the ACHA National Championships near Dallas.

At No. 1 and No. 2, Minot and Liberty, which left the ESCHL after four seasons in 2021, are the only two independent programs in the Top 25.

Following this week’s Thanksgiving Break, Liberty will conclude fall semester play at the LIC when it entertains Maryville (Mo.) University on Dec. 2-3, with Friday’s first meeting the second of three “Midnight Mayhem” matchups of the season. The Saints leaped three spots to No. 10 in this week’s computer poll.

After Christmas Break, the Flames will start the spring semester at No. 7 Ohio (12-4), which traded places with now-No. 6 Jamestown in the rankings.