Factoring a national hockey program stalled by Covid, the Maverick men’s hockey program was selected the best D1 team half-way through the 2020s, according to Rink Live.

“When we did this at the end of the 2010s, there was some mild controversy,” said Jess Myers with Rink Live, “as Boston College’s regular season success plus two NCAA titles edged out Minnesota Duluth, which claimed three national championships that decade.

“A similar thing happened when doing the math this time around, as a team without a NCAA title on its resume came out on top, thanks in large part to championships earned in the regular seasons.”

Despite not winning a national title, the Mavericks overall performance in the first half of the 2020s topped the scorecard with 28 points. Based on a nine-point scoring system. Rink Live’s scoring formula went like this:

• 5 points for a NCAA Title
• 3 points for being NCAA runner-up
• 2 points for getting to the Final Four
• 1 point for making the NCAA tournament
• 3 points for winning your conference’s regular season title
• 2 points for winning your conference tournament
• 2 points for Hobey Baker Award
• 1 point for the Mike Richter (goalie) award
• 1 point for the Tim Taylor (rookie) award.

Scored against the 60+ D1 programs, the Mavericks moved to the head of the class by racking up the following points:

• 3 points: National runner-up
• 4 points: Frozen Four x 2
• 3 points: NCAA tournament appearance x 3
• 12 points: Conference title x 4
• 4 points: Conference tournament x 2
• 2 points: Hobey Baker Award (Dryden McKay)

Second behind the Mavericks, was Denver, which won two national champions but only earned 25 points overall. The only other Minnesota school in the top 10, the University of Minnesota came in at fourth with 20 points behind Quinnipiac, 23 points. Rounding out the 10 best were 5) Boston College, 19 points; 6) Michigan and North Dakota, tied with 17; 8) Boston University and AIC, tied with 15; 10) UMass with 14 points.

Other Minnesota schools included 11) St. Cloud with 10 points; 14 tie) Minnesota Duluth with 7 points; and 19 tie) Bemidji State with 4 points.

Rink Live, based in Fargo, N.D., is a comprehensive hockey website focusing on Minnesota and North Dakota college and prep hockey news.