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. UND was ranked 13th in the final 2008-09 USA Today/USA Hockey Magazine poll.

Miami, last season's national runner-up, is the preseason No. 1 despite garnering only four of a possible 34 first-place votes. The RedHawks collected 457 total points to edge Denver, which collected 455 points and 13 first-place votes.

Defending NCAA champion Boston University received 12 first-place votes and is ranked third while Michigan is ranked fourth. Notre Dame received the remaining five first-place votes and is ranked fifth.

UND and DU are two of five WCHA teams ranked among the preseason top 15, joining No. 6 Minnesota, No. 13 St. Cloud State and No. 14 Wisconsin.

The Sioux take to the ice for the first time in 2009-10 when they host Manitoba in exhibition action on Sunday at 6:07 p.m. at Ralph Engelstad Arena.

2009-10 USA Today/USA Hockey Magazine Preseason Poll

School, Pts, 1st place votes
1. Miami, 457, 4
2. Denver, 455, 13
3. Boston University, 438, 12
4. Michigan, 384
5. Notre Dame, 370, 5
6. Minnesota, 270
7. Cornell, 254
8. North Dakota, 227
9. Princeton, 223
10. UMass-Lowell, 175
11. Yale, 149
12. Boston College, 117
13. St. Cloud State, 106
14. Wisconsin, 80
15. Vermont, 73

Others Receiving Votes: New Hampshire 71, Minnesota Duluth 64, Ohio State 60, Air Force 43, Northern Michigan 31, Colorado College 8, Northeastern 8, Bemidji State 6, Harvard 3, Mercyhurst 3, Niagara 3, St. Lawrence 2.