Bowling Green State University Athletics
Falcons Picked Near Top Of WCHA; Baylis Named Newcomer Of The Year
September 21, 2015 | Ice Hockey
Edina, Minn. – The Bowling Green State University hockey team is projected to finish among the top three in the Western Collegiate Hockey Association in voting for two separate polls by the league's coaches and the media covering the conference. In addition, freshman Stephen Baylis was named the Bemidji Pioneer WCHA Preseason Newcomer of the Year.
"We are coming off of a year that we felt was a good step for us," BGSU sixth-year head coach Chris Bergeron said. "We feel this group is going to be deep at all three positions. We have some individuals who are getting some attention, which I think is deserved. But we are a team first and our strength is going to be our depth."
The Mankato Free Press WCHA Preseason Coaches' Poll
Bowling Green was picked to finish second in the Mankato Free Press WCHA Men's Hockey Preseason Coaches' Poll, earning one first place vote and 79 total points. Minnesota State was projected to repeat, picking up eight of the 10 total first place votes and 89 points. Michigan Tech was third with the only other first place vote and was just one point behind the Falcons with 78 points.
Following Michigan Tech, Bemidji State was picked fourth, Alaska fifth and Ferris State sixth. Northern Michigan, Alabama Huntsville, Alaska Anchorage and Lake Superior State rounded out the poll.
The coaches also voted on a variety of individual awards and Baylis was second in the voting for preseason Rookie of the Year, behind Ferris State's Corey Mackin. Sophomores Brandon Hawkins and Mark Friedman both earned votes for the league's preseason All-WCHA Team.
Hawkins made a splash during his first season at Bowling Green, being named to the WCHA All-Rookie Team and earning the team's Jim Sears Most Valuable Player award. He led the team with 16 goals and 30 points, ranking in the top 10 in the WCHA and first among all freshmen in scoring. He was the Falcons' co-Rookie of the Year along with Friedman.
Friedman was also named to the WCHA All-Rookie Team and tied for the team-lead with 17 assists as a defenseman. He was an anchor on a defensive unit that ranked second in the country on the penalty kill and had a +7 on-ice rating for the season. Friedman was tied for seventh among all WCHA defensemen in points, as well as ranking seventh among WCHA freshmen in points.
2015-16 Mankato Free Press WCHA Men's Hockey Preseason Coaches' Poll
1. Minnesota State 89 (8)
2. Bowling Green 79 (1)
3. Michigan Tech 78 (1)
4. Bemidji State 61
5. Alaska 55
6. Ferris State 51
7. Northern Michigan 49
8. Alabama Huntsville 29
9. Alaska Anchorage 27
10. Lake Superior State 22
Preseason Player of the Year: Tyler Morley, sr. forward, Alaska (7); Bryce Gervais, sr. forward, Minnesota State (2); Alex Petan, sr. forward, Michigan Tech (1)
Preseason Rookie of the Year: Corey Mackin, forward, Ferris State (6); Stephen Baylis, forward, Bowling Green (2); Max Coatta, forward, Minnesota State (1); Mitch Hults, forward, Lake Superior State
Preseason All-WCHA Team
Forward—Tyler Morely, sr., Alaska
Forward—Bryce Gervais, sr., Minnesota State
Forward—Alex Petan, sr. Michigan Tech
Defenseman—Shane Hanna, jr., Michigan Tech
Defenseman—Casey Nelson, jr., Minnesota State
Goaltender—Jamie Phillips, sr., Michigan Tech
Others receiving votes: Forwards—Brandon Hawkins, so., Bowling Green. Defensemen—Mark Friedman, so., Bowling Green; Brock Maschmeyer, jr., Northern Michigan. Goaltenders—Carmine Guerriero, jr., Alabama Huntsville; Olivier Mantha, so., Alaska Anchorage; Mathias Dahlstrom, jr., Northern Michigan; Michael Bitzer, so., Bemidji State.
The Bemidji Pioneer WCHA Preseason Media Poll
Bowling Green finished third in the voting by the media, garnering eight of 29 total first place votes and 250 total points. First place votes were more evenly split than the coaches poll, with Minnesota State picking up 12 and being selected first and Michigan Tech earning nine first place votes to be picked second.
The remainder of the preseason poll was identical to the coaches poll except for Lake Superior State and Alaska Anchorage flipping in ninth and tenth place.
The media also voted for a variety of individual awards and Baylis' five votes edged out Mackin with four votes for Newcomer of the Year. Friedman and Hawkins, as well as junior Sean Walker, earned votes for the preseason All-WCHA Team.
Baylis, a forward, enters BGSU with much fanfare after posting 32 goals and 37 assists in 54 games for the Carleton Place Jr. A Canadians of the Central Canada Hockey League (CCHL) in 2014-15 and being named the league's regular season Most Valuable Player. In fact, he scored 185 points (79 goals, 106 assists) over 214 games with Carleton Place since the 2010-11 season.
Walker is coming off of a season in which he had five goals and 15 assists as defenseman, playing in all 39 games for the Falcons in 2014-15. He earned the team's Jim Ruehl Best Defensive Player award and ranked second on the squad with a +10 on-ice rating. He posted three assists over three postseason games in the WCHA Tournament as well.
BGSU will open the season with an exhibition contest against the University of Toronto on Saturday, Oct. 3 at 7:07 pm. The Falcons will then play their regular season opener at Ohio State on Friday, Oct. 9 at 7:05 pm before returning home to host the Buckeyes the next night at 7:07 pm.
2015-16 Bemidji Pioneer WCHA Men's Hockey Preseason Media Poll
1. Minnesota State (12), 265
2. Michigan Tech (9), 263
3. Bowling Green (8), 250
4. Bemidji State, 184
5. Alaska, 164
6. Ferris State, 142
7. Northern Michigan, 138
8. Alabama Huntsville, 88
9. Lake Superior State, 54
10. Alaska Anchorage, 47
Preseason Player Of The Year
Bryce Gervais, Sr., F, Minnesota State (9 votes)
Others receiving votes: Alex Petan, Sr., F, Michigan Tech (8 votes); Tyler Morley, Sr., F, Alaska (7); Jamie Phillips, Sr., G, Michigan Tech (1); Carmine Guerriero, Jr., G, Alabama-Huntsville (1); Brad McClure, So., F, Minnesota State (1).
Newcomer of the Year
Stephen Baylis, Fr., F, Bowling Green (5 votes)
Others receiving votes: Corey Mackin, Fr., F, Ferris State (4); Jake Jackson, Fr., F, Michigan Tech (2); Troy Loggins, Fr., F, Northern Michigan (2); Brett Boeing, Fr., F, Michigan Tech (1); Dillon Eichstadt, Fr., D, Bemidji State (1); Owen Headrick, Fr., D, Lake Superior State (1); Jetlan Houcher, Fr., F, Alabama-Huntsville (1); Nikolas Koberstein, Fr., D, Alaska (1); Jake Lucchini, Fr., F, Michigan Tech (1); Chandler Madry, Fr., F, Minnesota State (1); Jimmy Mullin, Sr. (Transfer), F, Minnesota State (1); Anthony Nellis, Fr., F, Lake Superior State (1); Chad Staley, Fr., F, Alaska (1).
Preseason All-WCHA Team
Goaltender - Jamie Phillips, Sr., Michigan Tech
Defensemen - Casey Nelson, Jr., Minnesota State and Shane Hanna, Jr., Michigan Tech
Forwards - Alex Petan, Sr., Michigan Tech; Bryce Gervais, Sr., Minnesota State and Tyler Morley, Sr., Alaska
Others receiving votes: Goaltender -- Michael Bitzer, So., Bemidji State; Carmine Guerriero, Jr., Alabama-Huntsville; Mathias Dahlstrom, Jr., Northern Michigan.
Defensemen -- Mark Friedman, So., Bowling Green; Brock Maschmeyer, Jr., Northern Michigan; Matt Roy, So., Michigan Tech; Sean Walker, Jr., Bowling Green; Cliff Watson, Jr., Michigan Tech.
Forwards -- Marcus Basara, Jr., Alaska; Teddy Blueger, Sr., Minnesota State; CJ Franklin, So., Minnesota State; Malcolm Gould, Sr., Michigan Tech; Brendan Harms, Jr., Bemidji State; Brandon Hawkins, So., Bowling Green; Brad McClure, So., Minnesota State; Max McHugh, So., Alabama Huntsville; Matt Robertson, Sr. Ferris State; Blake Tatchell, Sr., Alaska Anchorage
"We are coming off of a year that we felt was a good step for us," BGSU sixth-year head coach Chris Bergeron said. "We feel this group is going to be deep at all three positions. We have some individuals who are getting some attention, which I think is deserved. But we are a team first and our strength is going to be our depth."
The Mankato Free Press WCHA Preseason Coaches' Poll
Bowling Green was picked to finish second in the Mankato Free Press WCHA Men's Hockey Preseason Coaches' Poll, earning one first place vote and 79 total points. Minnesota State was projected to repeat, picking up eight of the 10 total first place votes and 89 points. Michigan Tech was third with the only other first place vote and was just one point behind the Falcons with 78 points.
Following Michigan Tech, Bemidji State was picked fourth, Alaska fifth and Ferris State sixth. Northern Michigan, Alabama Huntsville, Alaska Anchorage and Lake Superior State rounded out the poll.
The coaches also voted on a variety of individual awards and Baylis was second in the voting for preseason Rookie of the Year, behind Ferris State's Corey Mackin. Sophomores Brandon Hawkins and Mark Friedman both earned votes for the league's preseason All-WCHA Team.
Hawkins made a splash during his first season at Bowling Green, being named to the WCHA All-Rookie Team and earning the team's Jim Sears Most Valuable Player award. He led the team with 16 goals and 30 points, ranking in the top 10 in the WCHA and first among all freshmen in scoring. He was the Falcons' co-Rookie of the Year along with Friedman.
Friedman was also named to the WCHA All-Rookie Team and tied for the team-lead with 17 assists as a defenseman. He was an anchor on a defensive unit that ranked second in the country on the penalty kill and had a +7 on-ice rating for the season. Friedman was tied for seventh among all WCHA defensemen in points, as well as ranking seventh among WCHA freshmen in points.
2015-16 Mankato Free Press WCHA Men's Hockey Preseason Coaches' Poll
1. Minnesota State 89 (8)
2. Bowling Green 79 (1)
3. Michigan Tech 78 (1)
4. Bemidji State 61
5. Alaska 55
6. Ferris State 51
7. Northern Michigan 49
8. Alabama Huntsville 29
9. Alaska Anchorage 27
10. Lake Superior State 22
Preseason Player of the Year: Tyler Morley, sr. forward, Alaska (7); Bryce Gervais, sr. forward, Minnesota State (2); Alex Petan, sr. forward, Michigan Tech (1)
Preseason Rookie of the Year: Corey Mackin, forward, Ferris State (6); Stephen Baylis, forward, Bowling Green (2); Max Coatta, forward, Minnesota State (1); Mitch Hults, forward, Lake Superior State
Preseason All-WCHA Team
Forward—Tyler Morely, sr., Alaska
Forward—Bryce Gervais, sr., Minnesota State
Forward—Alex Petan, sr. Michigan Tech
Defenseman—Shane Hanna, jr., Michigan Tech
Defenseman—Casey Nelson, jr., Minnesota State
Goaltender—Jamie Phillips, sr., Michigan Tech
Others receiving votes: Forwards—Brandon Hawkins, so., Bowling Green. Defensemen—Mark Friedman, so., Bowling Green; Brock Maschmeyer, jr., Northern Michigan. Goaltenders—Carmine Guerriero, jr., Alabama Huntsville; Olivier Mantha, so., Alaska Anchorage; Mathias Dahlstrom, jr., Northern Michigan; Michael Bitzer, so., Bemidji State.
The Bemidji Pioneer WCHA Preseason Media Poll
Bowling Green finished third in the voting by the media, garnering eight of 29 total first place votes and 250 total points. First place votes were more evenly split than the coaches poll, with Minnesota State picking up 12 and being selected first and Michigan Tech earning nine first place votes to be picked second.
The remainder of the preseason poll was identical to the coaches poll except for Lake Superior State and Alaska Anchorage flipping in ninth and tenth place.
The media also voted for a variety of individual awards and Baylis' five votes edged out Mackin with four votes for Newcomer of the Year. Friedman and Hawkins, as well as junior Sean Walker, earned votes for the preseason All-WCHA Team.
Baylis, a forward, enters BGSU with much fanfare after posting 32 goals and 37 assists in 54 games for the Carleton Place Jr. A Canadians of the Central Canada Hockey League (CCHL) in 2014-15 and being named the league's regular season Most Valuable Player. In fact, he scored 185 points (79 goals, 106 assists) over 214 games with Carleton Place since the 2010-11 season.
Walker is coming off of a season in which he had five goals and 15 assists as defenseman, playing in all 39 games for the Falcons in 2014-15. He earned the team's Jim Ruehl Best Defensive Player award and ranked second on the squad with a +10 on-ice rating. He posted three assists over three postseason games in the WCHA Tournament as well.
BGSU will open the season with an exhibition contest against the University of Toronto on Saturday, Oct. 3 at 7:07 pm. The Falcons will then play their regular season opener at Ohio State on Friday, Oct. 9 at 7:05 pm before returning home to host the Buckeyes the next night at 7:07 pm.
2015-16 Bemidji Pioneer WCHA Men's Hockey Preseason Media Poll
1. Minnesota State (12), 265
2. Michigan Tech (9), 263
3. Bowling Green (8), 250
4. Bemidji State, 184
5. Alaska, 164
6. Ferris State, 142
7. Northern Michigan, 138
8. Alabama Huntsville, 88
9. Lake Superior State, 54
10. Alaska Anchorage, 47
Preseason Player Of The Year
Bryce Gervais, Sr., F, Minnesota State (9 votes)
Others receiving votes: Alex Petan, Sr., F, Michigan Tech (8 votes); Tyler Morley, Sr., F, Alaska (7); Jamie Phillips, Sr., G, Michigan Tech (1); Carmine Guerriero, Jr., G, Alabama-Huntsville (1); Brad McClure, So., F, Minnesota State (1).
Newcomer of the Year
Stephen Baylis, Fr., F, Bowling Green (5 votes)
Others receiving votes: Corey Mackin, Fr., F, Ferris State (4); Jake Jackson, Fr., F, Michigan Tech (2); Troy Loggins, Fr., F, Northern Michigan (2); Brett Boeing, Fr., F, Michigan Tech (1); Dillon Eichstadt, Fr., D, Bemidji State (1); Owen Headrick, Fr., D, Lake Superior State (1); Jetlan Houcher, Fr., F, Alabama-Huntsville (1); Nikolas Koberstein, Fr., D, Alaska (1); Jake Lucchini, Fr., F, Michigan Tech (1); Chandler Madry, Fr., F, Minnesota State (1); Jimmy Mullin, Sr. (Transfer), F, Minnesota State (1); Anthony Nellis, Fr., F, Lake Superior State (1); Chad Staley, Fr., F, Alaska (1).
Preseason All-WCHA Team
Goaltender - Jamie Phillips, Sr., Michigan Tech
Defensemen - Casey Nelson, Jr., Minnesota State and Shane Hanna, Jr., Michigan Tech
Forwards - Alex Petan, Sr., Michigan Tech; Bryce Gervais, Sr., Minnesota State and Tyler Morley, Sr., Alaska
Others receiving votes: Goaltender -- Michael Bitzer, So., Bemidji State; Carmine Guerriero, Jr., Alabama-Huntsville; Mathias Dahlstrom, Jr., Northern Michigan.
Defensemen -- Mark Friedman, So., Bowling Green; Brock Maschmeyer, Jr., Northern Michigan; Matt Roy, So., Michigan Tech; Sean Walker, Jr., Bowling Green; Cliff Watson, Jr., Michigan Tech.
Forwards -- Marcus Basara, Jr., Alaska; Teddy Blueger, Sr., Minnesota State; CJ Franklin, So., Minnesota State; Malcolm Gould, Sr., Michigan Tech; Brendan Harms, Jr., Bemidji State; Brandon Hawkins, So., Bowling Green; Brad McClure, So., Minnesota State; Max McHugh, So., Alabama Huntsville; Matt Robertson, Sr. Ferris State; Blake Tatchell, Sr., Alaska Anchorage
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