Ohio (19-4-6) lands at No. 4 in the American Collegiate Hockey Association’s final computer poll and will have a first-round bye in the ACHA National Tournament.
For the last 12 weeks, the ACHA has used its computer poll rankings to determine the seeding for the national championships. Ohio started at No. 9 in the first computer poll, which was released Oct. 31.
With a weekend sweep over then-No. 4 Iowa State on Feb.15-16, the Bobcats have found themselves back in the top four since Jan. 16.
The top four teams at the end of the computer polls earn first-round byes in the ACHA National Tournament. This is the third time under coach Sean Hogan that the Bobcats have ended the season at No. 4 or higher in their five ACHA National Tournament appearances. They finished at No. 4 a season ago and at No. 3 in 2016-17.
Last season, the Bobcats earned a first-round bye as the No. 4 seed. Even with the bye, it lost in the quarterfinal to Central States Collegiate Hockey League rival No. 5 seed Illinois.
As the No. 3, Ohio lost to No. 4 seed Central Oklahoma in the national championship game in 2016-17.
All members of the CSCHL have earned a bid to the ACHA National Tournament — Lindenwood, Iowa State, Illinois and Robert Morris-Illinois sit at No. 1, No. 5, No. 11 and No. 17, respectively.
Before Ohio travels to Frisco, Texas, for the 2018-19 ACHA National Tournament, it will travel to Wentzville, Missouri, for the CSCHL Tournament. Ohio finished second in the CSCHL regular season standings and will be the No. 2 seed in the tournament.
Ohio will play No. 3 seed Iowa State on Saturday, March 16.
