Kari Gibb/MDN The MSU men’s hockey team celebrates after a goal this year. Both the men and women are ranked with stellar play this season.

The Minot State University (MSU) men’s hockey team heads into this weekend’s rivalry battle with Jamestown as the No. 4 team in the nation, while the Beaver women’s hockey team, which also plays Jamestown, remains at No. 6.

The MSU men (14-3-1 overall, 10-1-0 MCH) slipped from No. 1 to the No. 4 spot in the current ACHA Division I men’s hockey poll after going 1-1-1 at the Maryville Showcase before Thanksgiving.

The Beaver women (11-6-1, 9-5-0 WMCH) remained at No. 6 in the current ACHA Division I women’s hockey poll after going 1-2 on the road at No. 1-ranked Liberty before Thanksgiving.

Ohio took over the No. 1 spot in the men’s poll followed by Adrian (Mich.) at No. 2 and Liberty (Va.) at No. 3. Minot State was No. 4 and Jamestown was No. 5.

Liberty remained the top team in the women’s poll followed by McKendree (Ill.) at No. 2, Maryville (Mo.) at No. 3, Adrian at No. 4, and Midland at No. 5.

The MSU men battle 5th-ranked Jamestown in a home-and-home series this Friday, December 5, and Saturday, December 6, with the teams playing in Jamestown at 3:30 p.m. on Friday afternoon, then at the All Seasons Arena here in Minot on Saturday at 7:30 p.m.

The Beaver women battle the Jamestown women, who are ranked No. 14, on Friday and Saturday with both games in Jamestown.