NCAA Hockey rankings 2012: Minnesota No. 1 in latest USCHO poll

The Minnesota Golden Gophers are the No. 1 team in the country in the latest top 20 from U.S. College Hockey Online. The Gophers were 2-0 on the season when the poll was compiled, though they have since suffered their first loss of the season -- a 5-3 defeat at the hands of unranked Michigan Tech.

The Gophers are coming off a Frozen Four appearance in 2012; it was the 20th time in program history that they reached the semifinals of the NCAA tournament. Minnesota did not win the national championship, though; the school's last hockey title came in 2003.

The complete USCHO top 20 (first-place votes are in parentheses):

1. Minnesota (46)
2. North Dakota (1)
3. Boston College (2)
4. Miami (Ohio)
5. Michigan
6. Cornell
7. Denver
8. Union (N.Y.)
9. Notre Dame
10. Massachusetts-Lowell
11. Boston University
12. Western Michigan
13. Minnesota-Duluth
14. Northeastern
15. New Hampshire
16. Ferris State
17. Harvard
17. Northern Michigan
19. Colorado College
20. Quinnipiac

The 4-1 Gophers return to the ice for an exhibition against the U.S. Under-18 team on Oct. 26. They will return to collegiate play with a game against Canisius on Oct. 28. The Canisius game will be televised by FOX Sports North.