Submitted Photo Minot State senior Cameron Schmidt drives the puck in the Beavers’ home game against Midland University on Saturday, Nov. 1. Photo by Sean Arbaut, courtesy of MSU Athletics

The Minot State men’s hockey team remained No. 3 in the country, despite the team’s first regulation setback, while the Minot State women’s hockey team moved up one spot during an off weekend, in the latest ACHA polls released this week.

The Minot State men (7-1-1 overall) held strong at No. 3 in the ACHA Division I men’s hockey poll, despite a 4-3 setback at in-state rival Mary on Saturday night.

Unbeaten Niagara (N.Y.) moved to No. 1 in the men’s poll for the first time in program history, replacing Ohio, which slipped to No. 2. The Beavers were No. 3, then came Calvin (Mich.) at No. 4, and Liberty (Va.) at No. 5, as each moved up one spot.

The Beavers will host Calvin in February at the Maysa Arena and play at Liberty in three weeks.

The Minot State men are home this weekend, hosting in-state rival Jamestown in a pair of games with puck drop at 7:30 p.m. at the Maysa Arena on Friday and Saturday night. The Jimmies checked in at No. 9 in this week’s poll, down five spots from last week.

After a busy stretch of 8 games in 17 days, the Minot State women’s hockey team (4-2-1-5) had last weekend off as they prepare to play at Jamestown on Friday and Saturday in the first meeting this season between the in-state foes.

The Beavers moved up one spot to No. 4 in this week’s ACHA Division I women’s poll. The Jimmies climbed two spots to No. 10 in this week’s rankings.

Seven-time national champion Liberty moved to the top of the poll for the first time this season, replacing Midland (Neb.), which slipped to No. 2. McKendree (Ill.) held onto the No. 3 spot for a third straight week while Minot State moved to No. 4, trading places with Maryville (Mo.), which slid down a spot to No. 5.