Marian University NCAA men’s hockey earned 31 points to finish in a tie for seventh in the NCHA preseason poll.
St. Norbert was picked as a heavy favorite to win the league grabbing 96 points and seven first-place votes. Aurora and Adrian were separated by just four points with the Spartans grabbing 85 points and two first-place votes, and the Bulldogs 81 points with the final first-place prediction. Trine wasn’t far off the pace at 77 points followed by MSOE at 56. Concordia Wisconsin finished in sixth at 47 points followed by Lawrence and Marian who each had 31 points. Lake Forest, 24 points, and Dubuque, 22 points, rounded out the preseason poll.
The winner of the regular season will be crowned the conference champion and earn the Peters Cup. The top eight teams will then compete in the conference tournament for the Harris Cup. The Harris Cup winner will also earn an automatic bid into the NCAA Division III Tournament.
Marian opens the season Friday, October 31 at home against Saint John’s (Minn.) for a 7 p.m. puck drop.
| Team | Points | First-place votes |
| 1. St. Norbert | 96 | 7 |
| 2. Aurora | 85 | 2 |
| 3. Adrian | 81 | 1 |
| 4. Trine | 77 | |
| 5. MSOE | 56 | |
| 6. Concordia Wisconsin | 47 | |
| t7. Lawrence | 31 | |
| t7. Marian | 31 | |
| 9. Lake Forest | 24 | |
| 10. Dubuque | 22 |
