January 13, 2026 –  The North Dakota Fighting Hawks are still soaring high in the national polls, the #5 ranked team in the nation in the latest USCHO men’s hockey poll released on January 12, 2026.

With a stout 17-5-0 record on the season, UND is positioning itself as a legitimate national contender. The top of the poll remains largely a Big Ten and NCHC affair, with Michigan, Wisconsin, Western Michigan, and Michigan State all sitting ahead of North Dakota, making the competition at the top incredibly tight.

The Fighting Hawks are coming off a solid road trip where they split the series with Colorado College, bouncing back from an overtime loss on Friday with a dominant 5-2 victory on Saturday. The team has been a force to be reckoned with, especially with key players like forward Ellis Rickwood and goaltender Jan Špunar delivering big performances throughout the season.

This week, the Hawks return home to the Ralph Engelstad Arena for a crucial NCHC showdown. They’ll host the No. 9/10 Denver Pioneers for a two-game series, starting this Friday, January 16, at 7:07 p.m. CT, followed by the second game on Saturday, January 17, at 6:07 p.m. CT.