KALAMAZOO, Mich. -- The Western Michigan hockey team was selected to finish fourth in the annual NCHC preseason poll, the league office announced this afternoon. The Broncos secured 237 total points from 33 ballots submitted by league-wide media members. 

Denver topped the rankings, earning 304 points and 14 first-place votes. North Dakota (302, 12 FPV), Minnesota Duluth (273, 7 FPV), WMU (237) and Miami (175) rounded out the top five. WMU went 9-7 against the Pioneers, Fighting Hawks, Bulldogs and RedHawks last season. 

The bottom half of the poll included Colorado College (159), St. Thomas (121), St. Cloud State (102), Arizona State (73) and Omaha (69). The Brown and Gold dominated this group, boasting a 9-2-1 record against the Tigers, Tommies, Huskies, Sun Devils and Mavericks.

WMU is coming off of another successful season, finishing the 2025-26 campaign with a 27-11-1 overall record and 16-7-1 conference mark. Western Michigan made its fifth straight appearance in the NCAA Tournament, advancing to the regional final in Loveland, Colo. 

The Broncos will open the 2026-27 season with an exhibition against Western Ontario on Oct. 3 at 6 p.m. at Lawson Arena. The regular season will kick off against Ferris State on Oct. 8 at Lawson Arena. Puck drop is slated for 7 p.m.

For tickets, visit WMUBroncos.com/Tickets or call the ticket office at 1-888-496-8849.