Bowling Green State University Athletics
Falcons Predicted to Finish Fourth in WCHA Preseason Polls
September 25, 2017 | Ice Hockey
Original Release
BLOOMINGTON, Minn. – The Bowling Green hockey program was voted to finish fourth overall in both the 2017 Mankato Free Press WCHA Coaches' and the UAHhockey.com WCHA Media preseason polls, announced Monday afternoon.
For the third consecutive year, the Falcon hockey program has finished with a 20+ win season by a record of 21-18-2 in the 2016-17 campaign, resulting in its first conference championship appearance since 1988.
On its way to the 2017 WCHA Championship game, the Falcons went on a seven-game win streak, the longest of Coach Bergeron's career and longest since the 1987-88 season. Additionally, the Bowling Green squad tallied a total of 18 notable conference and national awards, including 10 WCHA Players of the Week, four All-WCHA honorees, three WCHA Players of the Month, and an NCAA Hockey No. 1 Star of the Week award in addition to garnering a total of 13 WCHA All-Academic Student-Athletes.
For the upcoming season, the Falcons will look to return nine of 12 forwards who appeared in the WCHA Championship, as well as five of seven defensemen for the 2017-18 campaign, resulting in Bowling Green garnering 90 points in the coaches' preseason poll. The Falcons also had one vote for the top finish on the year in the media preseason poll.
The program that owns the fourth-most wins nationally over the last five years is the heavy 2017-18 favorite, as Minnesota State sits atop both the Mankato Free Press WCHA Coaches' and UAHHockey.com WCHA Media preseason polls.
2017-18 Mankato Free Press WCHA Men's Hockey Preseason Coaches' Poll
Rk. Team (1st-place votes) Points
1. Minnesota State (9) 90
2. Bemidji State (1) 81
3. Michigan Tech 70
4. Bowling Green 67
5. Ferris State 59
6. Lake Superior State 51
7. Northern Michigan 40
8. Alaska 35
9. Alabama Huntsville 29
10. Alaska Anchorage 18
Teams received 10 points for a first-place vote, nine for a second-place vote, etc., while coaches could not vote for their own teams.
Preseason WCHA Player of the Year:
Daniel Brickley, D, Minnesota State (four votes)
Marc Michaelis, F, Minnesota State (four votes)
Preseason WCHA Rookie of the Year:
Jake Jaremko, F, Minnesota State (four votes)
Preseason All-WCHA Team:
Forwards
Marc Michaelis, Minnesota State
CJ Suess, Minnesota State
Mitch McLain, Bowling Green
Defensemen
Daniel Brickley, Minnesota State
Mark Auk, Michigan Tech
Goaltender
Michael Bitzer, Bemidji State
Senior forward Tyler Spezia was also nominated for the Mankato Free Press Preseason All-WCHA Team.
2017-18 UAHhockey.com WCHA Men's Hockey Preseason Media Poll
Rk Team (1st-place votes) Points
1. Minnesota State (12) 137
2. Bemidji State 115
3. Michigan Tech (1) 110
4. Bowling Green (1) 108
5. Ferris State 81
6. Lake Superior State 62
7. Northern Michigan 59
8. Alaska 43
9. Alabama Huntsville 36
10. Alaska Anchorage 19
Preseason WCHA Player of the Year
Daniel Brickley, Minnesota State
Senior forward Mitch McLain received votes for Preseason WCHA Player of the Year.
Preseason All-WCHA Team
First Team
Forwards
Mitch McLain, Bowling Green
Marc Michaelis, Minnesota State
Corey Mackin, Ferris State
Defensemen
Daniel Brickley, Minnesota State
Kurt Gosselin, Alabama Huntsville
Goaltender
Michael Bitzer, Bemidji State
Second Team
Forwards
Gerry Fitzgerald, Bemidji State
CJ Suess, Minnesota State
Joel L'Esperance, Michigan Tech
Defensemen
Mitch Reinke, Michigan Tech
Mark Auk, Michigan Tech
Goaltender
Atte Tolvanen, Northern Michigan
Senior forward Tyler Spezia and sophomore defenseman Alec Rauhauser also received votes for preseason All-WCHA teams.
The Bowling Green hockey program will open the 2017-18 season on Sunday, Oct. 1 as it welcomes Wilfrid Laurier to the Slater Family Ice Arena at 3 p.m. for exhibition play.
Players Mentioned
BG Hockey : Kevin Piel w/Dennis Williams
Friday, April 25
BG HKY Postgame 3/15/25
Sunday, March 16
BG Hky Postgame 03.08
Sunday, March 09
BG Hky Postgame 3.7
Saturday, March 08