Union College has the No. 1 hockey team in the nation for the first time in school history, according to the U.S. College Hockey Online poll released today.

The Skating Dutchmen (28-6-4), unbeaten in their past 13 games, received 31 of the 50 first-place votes. Union, which won its third straight ECAC championship over the weekend at Lake Placid, was second last week.

Minnesota, which lost in the Big Ten Tournament semifinals, dropped to No. 2 and received 18 first-place votes. Hockey East champion Lowell, which is fifth overall, got the other first-place vote.

The rankings (first-place votes in parentheses):

Record Points Pvs

1. Union (31) 28- 6-4 969 2

2. Minnesota (18) 25- 6-6 955 1

3. Boston College 26- 7-4 899 3

4. Wisconsin 24-10-2 837 6

5. Lowell (1) 25-10-4 795 7

6. Ferris State 28-10-3 750 4

7. Quinnipiac 24- 9-6 709 5

8. St. Cloud State 21-10-5 632 8

9. Notre Dame 23-14-2 573 10

10. Providence 21-10-6 546 9

11. Minnesota-Mankato 26-13-1 501 15

12. Colgate 20-13-5 451 14

13. North Dakota 23-13-3 437 11

14. Vermont 20-14-3 316 16

15. Michigan 18-13-4 261 12

16. Cornell 17-10-5 225 13

17. Denver 20-15-6 183 NR

18. New Hampshire 22-18-1 154 18

19. Northeastern 19-14-4 143 17

20. Ohio State 18-14-5 80 NR

Others receiving votes: Yale 33, Robert Morris 31, Western Michigan 13, Miami 5, Alaska-Anchorage 1, Minnesota-Duluth 1.