Bowling Green State University Athletics
BGSU Tabbed Eighth in Preseason CCHA Media Poll
September 25, 2001 | Ice Hockey
Sept. 25, 2001
Detroit, Mich. - Bowling Green State University was picked to finish eighth in the 2001-02 Central Collegiate Hockey Association preseason media poll on Tuesday. It was announced at the CCHA Media Day at Joe Louis Arena in Detroit Mich.
Michigan State University, the reigning CCHA regular-season and tournament champion, was tabbed as the preseason favorite to win the league title. The Spartans, who captured their 10th tournament title and seventh league crown last season, garnered 22 of a possible 26 first-place votes. The University of Michigan finished second in balloting joining Nebraska-Omaha, Ohio State and Miami among other schools receiving first-place votes.
"We had a great run at the end of last year and we're looking to capitalize on that as we head into this new season," said BGSU's Buddy Powers, who begins his eighth season as head coach of the Falcons.
"In the league, as I said before, every night the games are close. There are a awful lot of one-goal hockey games and if you can win those one-goal games you're going to have yourself a pretty darn good season," said Powers. "I think on any night anybody can beat anybody."
During the press conference, Powers commented on the fact that BGSU opens its season against the University of Maine at the 2001 Icebreakers Tournament. Maine head coach and BGSU graduate Shawn Walsh died on Monday after battling cancer for the past 15 months.
"It's ironic that Bowling Green, his alma mater, is playing its first game against Maine," said Powers. "That's going to be an extremely difficult night for us. But I think that Shawn would want us to go on in a positive way and I look for a great tournament."
The members of the media ranked the 12 CCHA teams in projected order of finish for the regular season. Points were awarded on a 12-11-10-9, etc., basis.
1) Michigan State (22) 306 2) Michigan (1) 273 3) Nebraska-Omaha (1) 241 4) Ohio State (1) 207 5) Northern Michigan 184 6) Miami (1) 182 7) Western Michigan 172 8) Bowling Green 110 9) Lake Superior 101 10) Ferris State 98 11) Notre Dame 90 12) Alaska-Fairbanks 64
