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Bowling Green State University Athletics
BGSU Hockey 10th/11th in CCHA Preseason Polls
September 16, 2003 | Ice Hockey
Sept. 16, 2003
Detroit, Mich. - The two-time defending Mason Cup champion Michigan Wolverines are designated as the team to beat in the Central Collegiate Hockey Association during the 2003-04 season, according to the annual preseason media and coaches polls. The Wolverines, who captured their sixth tournament crown last season and made an NCAA record-tying 13th straight appearance in the NCAA Tournament, collected 70 first-place votes in the media poll and ten No. 1 hits in the coaches poll.
BGSU was tabbed to finish 10th in the coaches poll and 11th in the media poll.
"Obviously with the finishes that we've had in recent past it doesn't surprise me," said BGSU coach Scott Paluch on the preseason polls. "Our goal is to prove that ranking wrong. With UAF two years ago and Ferris State last year, that's clearly the model that our program's looking to do - to take a ranking that's lower than you like and prove that we deserve to be ranked higher, and show the product on the ice. Now the responsibility falls on our shoulders to prove that."
The Wolverines were once again selected to finish in first on the strength of 18 returning players and an incoming class of freshmen ranked best in the nation by Inside College Hockey.com. Red Berenson, who is entering his 20th year as head coach at Michigan, ices a lineup that boasts 10 NHL draft picks, including 2003 Los Angeles first-round selection and CCHA Rookie Of The Year Jeff Tambellini, along with fellow CCHA All-Rookie Team honoree Al Montoya.
Michigan State looks to challenge for the top spot once again after receiving 7 first-place votes in the media poll and one top vote by league coaches. Ferris State, the defending regular-season champions, under the direction of National Division 1 Coach of the Year Bob Daniels, looks to defend its title by returning 17 letterwinners, including All-CCHA first-team goalie Mike Brown and All-CCHA second-team members Jeff Legue and Simon Mangos. Ohio State, which accumulated three first-place votes by the media and ranked fourth in both polls, returns a strong contingent of senior forwards backed by CCHA Goalie of the Year Mike Betz.
A CCHA-record 82 media members ranked the 12 CCHA teams in projected order of finish for the regular season, surpassing last year's record of 72. Points were awarded on a 12-11-10-9, etc., basis. League coaches ranked the CCHA teams excluding their own school in the order they predicted the regular season will end. Points in the coaches poll were tallied on a 11-10-9, etc., basis.
CCHA coaches and the media agreed on six of the 12 positions with a different perspective on second and third spots along with positions eight through 11. Last season the two polls were identical.
Coaches Poll 1) Michigan (10) 120 2) Ferris State (1) 104 3) Michigan State (1) 101 4) Ohio State 96 5) N. Michigan 71 6) Miami 64 7) Notre Dame 62 8) Alaska Fairbanks 53 9) W. Michigan 52 10) Bowling Green 35 11) Nebraska-Omaha 23 12) Lake Superior 11Media Poll 1) Michigan (70) 2) Michigan State (7) 3) Ferris State (2) 4) Ohio State (3) 5) N. Michigan 6) Miami 7) Notre Dame 8) W. Michigan 9) Alaska Fairbanks 10) Nebraska-Omaha 11) Bowling Green 12) Lake Superior
