For MTU hockey two national ranking systems operate simultaneously–one that directly impacts playoff qualification and another that reflects certain opinions. The NCAA determines Division I hockey postseason selection and seeding using a mathematical formula known as the National Power Index (NPI). Currently, Michigan Tech’s Hockey is ranked 18th with a total season record standing of 21-10-3. At the same time, the US College Hockey Online (USCHO) publishes weekly on Mondays, a national poll based on votes from coaches, scouts, and media members of which Michigan Tech ranks 16th as of Feb. 16th.
“When we look at national ratings, we focus on the NPI over the polls that are voted on,” said Assistant Coach Tyler Shelast. He adds that “The NCAA Tournament selection is based solely on NPI, so it’s the only one that matters.” NPI assigns each team a single numerical rating based on their winning percentages, strength of schedule, and quality wins against higher ranking teams. At the end of the season, teams are seeded solely on their NPI determining which programs qualify for the NCAA tournament. Unlike traditional polls, the NPI is formula-based and does not involve subjective voting.
Separately, MTU is also ranked in the USCHO Division I men’s poll which consists of 50 voting members, including coaches, scouts, and media representatives. Each Division I conference is represented in the voting pool, and voters’ identities are kept confidential.
While both rankings measure national standing, their purposes differ. The NPI is used for NCAA postseason selection and seeding, while the USCHO poll reflects weekly perception of performance but does not determine tournament bids. “We’re more concerned about how our team is playing every shift, every period, and every game.” Shelast said, “If we focus on executing our game plan properly, the rankings will take care of themselves. We want to be playing our best hockey at the end of the season to have a chance to compete for championships.” For Michigan Tech, the dual rankings highlight the distinction between objective evaluation and opinion-based assessment.
