November 26, 2018
Impressive week at Beehive Showcase catapults Lopes to No. 8 ranking
By: Jim Howell/GCU Club Sports Information Director

The Grand Canyon University Men’s Ice Hockey Division II team is officially ranked No. 8 in the latest American Collegiate Hockey Association (ACHA) West Poll. It’s not only a leap of five spots from the team’s No. 13 ranking in last week’s poll, it also equals the highest ranking ever for the program (they were ranked No. 8 for one week last December). It’s also the 14th consecutive poll that the Lopes have enjoyed a ranking, and they’ve spent 13 of those polls ranked in the ACHA Top 10. The Lopes’ resurgence in the poll coincides with their impressive showing at the Beehive Showcase in Utah, winning two of their four games (including an upset of last week’s No. 8 team, Williston State College), and ending the tournament with an overtime tie with top-ranked University of Mary.

After spending Thanksgiving week with their families, the Lopes now return to business this coming weekend with another big challenge, since they’ll play the eighth team this season that’s currently ranked. The Lopes return to their home ice, AZ Ice Arcadia (38th Street and Thomas Road in Phoenix (arena is right behind the Sprint Store)) to host the Wildcats of Weber State University, who are currently at No. 15 in the poll, in a two-game series. The puck drops between the Lopes and Wildcats at 6:30 pm Saturday, December 1, and then at 10:30 am Sunday, December 2.

The entire ACHA West Rankings are listed below:

Rank School Prev Rank
1 Mary (ND) 1
2 Northern Colorado 2
3 Boise State (ID) 3
4 Northern Arizona 4
5 Dakota College (ND) 6
6 Metro State-Denver (CO) 10
7 Cal-State Northridge 12
8 Grand Canyon (D2) 13
9 Eastern Washington 9
10 Montana State 7
11 Oregon 5
12 Williston State College (ND) 8
13 BYU (UT) 14
14 Utah State 11
15 Weber State (UT) 16
16 Texas 17
17 Providence (MT) 15
18 Denver (CO) 20
19 Dallas Baptist (TX) 18
20 Long Beach State (CA) NR
Tags:ACHA, club sports, D2, GCU, gcu men’s hockey

Location

Grand Canyon University