USA Hockey is convinced the Gophers are a touch better than other national polls are predicting. The 19th annual USA Today/USA Hockey Magazine men's college hockey preseason poll ranked the Gophers fifth in the country.

University of Massachusetts-Lowell is No. 1, while two other Big Ten members cracked the top 15. Wisconsin is No. 3 and received one first-place vote. Michigan is No. 10 and is one of only two ranked teams that finished last season unranked.

Other polls, such as Let's Play Hockey and College Hockey News, had the Gophers at No. 6. The USA Today/USA Hockey Magazine poll is often held with the highest regard and partners with the American Hockey Coaches Association.

The Gophers finished last season also ranked fifth.

St. Cloud State is ranked No. 9 and Minnesota State No. 14. Both programs are on the Gophers' 2013-2014 schedule along with four other top 15 teams (Wisconsin, Boston College, Notre Dame, Michigan).

The Big Ten and National Collegiate Hockey Conference, both first-year conferences, each had three teams in the preseason poll. The NCHC's Miami (Ohio) is No. 2 and North Dakota No. 6 to go with St. Cloud State at No. 9.

For the complete poll see below.

• I was at Monday's skate and the freshmen looked impressive. Many of the newbies spent extra time on the ice working on shots near the goal and rebounding. Here's a glimpse into the captains' practice.

• Edina's young star Dylan Malmquist committed to Notre Dame last week. During last year's state championship run with the Hornets, the sophomore collected 46 points with 23 goals and 23 assists.

Malmquist adds to a string of Edina hockey products that end up in South Bend. Anders Lee (New York Islanders), Ben Ostlie, Steven Fogarty, and soon-to-be Irishman Connor Hurley are among this group.

USA Today/USA Hockey Magazine
19th Annual Men's College Hockey Poll - Preseason
(First-place votes in parentheses)

Rank

School

2012-13
Final
Ranking

2012-13
Final
Record

Weeks in Top 15

1

University of Massachusetts Lowell, 484 (20)

3

28-11-2

1

2

Miami University, 444 (9)

6

25-12-5

1

3

University of Wisconsin, 364 (1)

13

22-13-7

1

4

Boston College, 359

8

22-12-4

1

5

University of Minnesota, 347

5

26-9-5

1

6

University of North Dakota, 300

7

22-13-7

1

7

University of Notre Dame, 285

9

25-13-3

1

8

Yale University, 269 (4)

1

22-12-3

1

9

St. Cloud State University, 230

4

25-16-1

1

10

University of Michigan, 167

NR

18-19-3

1

11

Quinnipiac University, 135

2

30-8-5

1

12

Union College, 124

10

22-13-5

1

13

University of New Hampshire, 116

11

20-12-7

1

14

Minnesota State University, 110

12

24-14-3

1

15

Providence College, 103

NR

17-14-7

1

Others receiving votes: Rensselaer, 80; University of Denver, 74; Cornell University, 32; Western Michigan University, 28; Niagara University, 12; Merrimack College, 8; Boston University, 4; Ferris State University, 4; Michigan Tech University, 1.