Bowling Green State University Athletics
Falcons Picked To Finish Eighth In Both Polls
September 27, 2005 | Ice Hockey
Sept. 26, 2005
FARMINGTON HILLS, Mich. - The Central Collegiate Hockey Association's annual coaches and media poll was release this afternoon (Tues.) with Bowling Green picked to finish eighth in each poll. Fifty-four media members and all 12-league coaches participated in the yearly poll.
Last season the Falcons finished fifth in the CCHA, posting a 13-12-3 record after being picked to finish 10th/11th in last year's preseason poll.
Complete CCHA Release
Ohio State has earned first-place honors in the Central Collegiate Hockey Association's annual media and coaches preseason polls. The Buckeyes, finishing second last season in the standings and at the Super Six Championship, are the unanimous selection for first place in the coaches poll and received 45 first-place votes in the media poll. Michigan ranked second in both polls, earning seven first-place votes from the media. Michigan State and Northern Michigan were the only other teams to garner first-place votes in the media poll.
The Buckeyes, looking to capture their first regular-season CCHA championship, are led by Preseason All-CCHA First Team selections senior goaltender David Caruso and junior forward Rod Pelley. The roster, which returns 21 players, also features sophomore forward Tom Fristche, who was selected to the CCHA All-Tournament and All-Rookie Teams in his first year, CCHA All-Conference Second Team defenseman senior Nate Guenin, and CCHA All-Tournament team selection junior defenseman Sean Collins.
Michigan, which looks to defend its regular-season and CCHA Tournament titles, is led by junior forward T.J. Hensick, the defending conference scoring champion, and CCHA All-Conference Second Team selection junior defenseman Matt Hunwick. In search of their 16th straight NCAA Tournament bid, the Wolverines will depend on a roster that features 11 freshmen, including defenseman Jack Johnson, who was selected third overall by the Carolina Hurricanes in this year's NHL Entry Draft. With a lineup boasting 11 NHL draft picks, Northern Michigan, which returns last year's Best Defensive Defenseman award winner senior Nathan Oystrick, and returns the top eight scorers and seven defensemen from last season, sits in third place on both polls. Michigan State, led by junior goaltender Dominic Vicari is fourth, and Alaska Fairbanks earned fifth-place honors in both polls.
A total of 54 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. 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 eight of the 12 positions, with a different perspective on sixth, seventh, 10th, and 12th place positions.
Media Poll
1. Ohio State (45) 622 2. Michigan (7) 581 3. Northern Michigan (1) 494 4. Michigan State (1) 432 5. Nebraska-Omaha 380 6. Alaska Fairbanks 372 7. Miami 368 8. Bowling Green State 300 9. Notre Dame 196 10. Western Michigan 179 11. Lake Superior State 159 12. Ferris State 112Coaches Poll
1. Ohio State (11) 121 2. Michigan (1) 108 3. Northern Michigan 96 4. Michigan State 93 5. Nebraska-Omaha 78 6. Miami 69 7. Alaska Fairbanks 65 8. Bowling Green State 50 9. Notre Dame 36 10. Ferris State 28 11. Lake Superior State 23 12. Western Michigan 22
