Bowling Green State University Athletics
WCHA Releases Preseason Polls For 2019-20 Season
September 18, 2019 | Ice Hockey
BLOOMINGTON, Minn. – The Bowling Green State University hockey program has been voted to finish second overall in both the 2019-20 Mankato Free Press WCHA Preseason Coaches' Poll, and the 2019-20 WCHA Preseason Media Poll announced Wednesday afternoon.
The Bowling Green Falcon hockey program went 25-11-5 in 2018-19, earning its fifth consecutive 20-win season. The Falcons advanced to the WCHA championship game for the second time in three years, and punched their ticket to their first NCAA Tournament appearance in 29 seasons.
Falcon defenseman and senior captain Alec Rauhauser along with junior forward Brandon Kruse were voted to the preseason All-WCHA team in both the media and the coaches' polls.
Rauhauser's contributions to the 2018-19 campaign included 26 recorded points with 22 assists. This led all Falcon defensemen, and was second highest among blueliners in the WCHA. He also led the squad in plus/minus at +21 on the year, which was fourth best in the entire conference by season's end. Brandon Kruse led Bowling Green and the WCHA in assists last season with 31. His 41 total points were second most on the roster, and tied for third in the conference.
Junior forward Max Johnson also received votes from the coaches' and media. Johnson's 43 points were the most scored in the WCHA a season ago, and led the Orange and Brown.
For the upcoming season, the Falcons will return 11 forwards, six defensemen, and two goaltenders from a 2018-19 campaign that saw the Falcons compete in their first NCAA Tournament in 29 years.
Bowling Green garnered 82 points in the coaches poll, and 89 points in the media's. The Falcons also had one vote for the top finish on the year in the coaches' preseason poll.
In total, there are a minimum of 17 opportunities to watch the team in the Slater Family Ice Arena. Season tickets are available for as low as $190 and provide the greatest value for fans. Full information is available by CLICKING HERE.
2019-20 Mankato Free Press WCHA Preseason Coaches' Poll
Rank Team (1st Place Votes) Points
1. Minnesota State (9) 90
2. Bowling Green (1) 82
3. Bemidji State 63
4. Northern Michigan 61
5. Michigan Tech 59
6. Lake Superior State 58
7. Alaska 39
8. Ferris State 38
9. Alabama Huntsville 30
10. Alaska Anchorage 20
Coaches could not vote for their own teams. Based on a 10-9-8-7-6-5-4-3-2 scale.
WCHA Preseason Player of the Year:
Marc Michaelis, Sr., F, Minnesota State
Others receiving votes: Parker Tuomie, Sr., F, Minnesota State
WCHA Preseason Rookie of the Year:
Nathan Smith, Fr., F, Minnesota State
Others receiving votes: Colby Bukes, Fr., D, Minnesota State; Samuel Solensky, Fr., F, Bemidji State
Preseason All-WCHA Team:
Forwards:
Marc Michaelis, Sr., Minnesota State
Parker Tuomie, Sr., Minnesota State
Brandon Kruse, Jr., Bowling Green
Defensemen:
Philip Beaulieu, Sr., Northern Michigan
Alec Rauhauser, Sr., Bowling Green
Goaltender:
Dryden McKay, So., Minnesota State
Others receiving votes: F - Max Johnson, Jr., Bowling Green; Brian Halonen, So., Michigan Tech; Max Humitz, Sr., Lake Superior State; D - Connor Mackey, Jr., Minnesota State; Collin Saccoman, Sr., Lake Superior State; Ian Scheid, Sr., Minnesota State; G - Matt Jurusik, Sr., Michigan Tech
2019-20 WCHA Preseason Media Poll
Rank Team (1st Place Votes) Points
1. Minnesota State (10) 100
2. Bowling Green 89
3. Northern Michigan 72
4. Michigan Tech 68
5. Bemidji State 62
6. Lake Superior State 57
7. Ferris State 37
8. Alaska 27
9. Alabama Huntsville 26
10. Alaska Anchorage 12
Predicted order of finish. Based on a 10-9-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1 scale.
WCHA Preseason Player of the Year
Marc Michaelis, Sr., F, Minnesota State
Others receiving votes: Brandon Kruse, Jr., F, Bowling Green; Philip Beaulieu, Sr., D, Northern Michigan;
Max Johnson, Jr., F, Bowling Green; Dryden McKay, So., G, Minnesota State; Parker Tuomie, Sr., F, Minnesota State
Based on a 3-2-1 scale.
WCHA Preseason Rookie of the Year
Nathan Smith, F, Minnesota State
Others receiving votes: Jett Jungels, F, Northern Michigan; Dallas Tulik, F, Ferris State; Blake Pietela, G, Michigan Tech; Hank Sorenson, F, Northern Michigan; Ryan Sandelin, F, Minnesota State; Cade Borchert, F, Minnesota State; Logan Pietela, F, Michigan Tech; T.J. Lloyd, D, Bowling Green; Mason Palmer, D, Northern Michigan; Parker Saretsky, F, Michigan Tech; Louis Boudon, F, Lake Superior State; Cameron Babiak, D, Bowling Green; Dustin Manz, F, Lake Superior State; Samuel Solensky, F, Bemidji State
Based on a 3-2-1 scale.
Preseason All-WCHA Team
Forwards:
Marc Michaelis, Sr., Minnesota State
Parker Tuomie, Sr., Minnesota State
Brandon Kruse, Jr., Bowling Green
Defensemen:
Philip Beaulieu, Sr., D, Northern Michigan
Alec Rauhauser, Sr., D, Bowling Green
Goaltender
Dryden McKay, So., Minnesota State
Others receiving votes: F - Max Johnson, Jr., Bowling Green; Max Humitz, Sr., Lake Superior State; D - Collin Saccoman, Sr., Lake Superior State; Seamus Donohue, Jr., Michigan Tech; G - Zach Driscoll, Jr., Bemidji State
The Bowling Green Falcon hockey program went 25-11-5 in 2018-19, earning its fifth consecutive 20-win season. The Falcons advanced to the WCHA championship game for the second time in three years, and punched their ticket to their first NCAA Tournament appearance in 29 seasons.
Falcon defenseman and senior captain Alec Rauhauser along with junior forward Brandon Kruse were voted to the preseason All-WCHA team in both the media and the coaches' polls.
Rauhauser's contributions to the 2018-19 campaign included 26 recorded points with 22 assists. This led all Falcon defensemen, and was second highest among blueliners in the WCHA. He also led the squad in plus/minus at +21 on the year, which was fourth best in the entire conference by season's end. Brandon Kruse led Bowling Green and the WCHA in assists last season with 31. His 41 total points were second most on the roster, and tied for third in the conference.
Junior forward Max Johnson also received votes from the coaches' and media. Johnson's 43 points were the most scored in the WCHA a season ago, and led the Orange and Brown.
For the upcoming season, the Falcons will return 11 forwards, six defensemen, and two goaltenders from a 2018-19 campaign that saw the Falcons compete in their first NCAA Tournament in 29 years.
Bowling Green garnered 82 points in the coaches poll, and 89 points in the media's. The Falcons also had one vote for the top finish on the year in the coaches' preseason poll.
In total, there are a minimum of 17 opportunities to watch the team in the Slater Family Ice Arena. Season tickets are available for as low as $190 and provide the greatest value for fans. Full information is available by CLICKING HERE.
2019-20 Mankato Free Press WCHA Preseason Coaches' Poll
Rank Team (1st Place Votes) Points
1. Minnesota State (9) 90
2. Bowling Green (1) 82
3. Bemidji State 63
4. Northern Michigan 61
5. Michigan Tech 59
6. Lake Superior State 58
7. Alaska 39
8. Ferris State 38
9. Alabama Huntsville 30
10. Alaska Anchorage 20
Coaches could not vote for their own teams. Based on a 10-9-8-7-6-5-4-3-2 scale.
WCHA Preseason Player of the Year:
Marc Michaelis, Sr., F, Minnesota State
Others receiving votes: Parker Tuomie, Sr., F, Minnesota State
WCHA Preseason Rookie of the Year:
Nathan Smith, Fr., F, Minnesota State
Others receiving votes: Colby Bukes, Fr., D, Minnesota State; Samuel Solensky, Fr., F, Bemidji State
Preseason All-WCHA Team:
Forwards:
Marc Michaelis, Sr., Minnesota State
Parker Tuomie, Sr., Minnesota State
Brandon Kruse, Jr., Bowling Green
Defensemen:
Philip Beaulieu, Sr., Northern Michigan
Alec Rauhauser, Sr., Bowling Green
Goaltender:
Dryden McKay, So., Minnesota State
Others receiving votes: F - Max Johnson, Jr., Bowling Green; Brian Halonen, So., Michigan Tech; Max Humitz, Sr., Lake Superior State; D - Connor Mackey, Jr., Minnesota State; Collin Saccoman, Sr., Lake Superior State; Ian Scheid, Sr., Minnesota State; G - Matt Jurusik, Sr., Michigan Tech
2019-20 WCHA Preseason Media Poll
Rank Team (1st Place Votes) Points
1. Minnesota State (10) 100
2. Bowling Green 89
3. Northern Michigan 72
4. Michigan Tech 68
5. Bemidji State 62
6. Lake Superior State 57
7. Ferris State 37
8. Alaska 27
9. Alabama Huntsville 26
10. Alaska Anchorage 12
Predicted order of finish. Based on a 10-9-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1 scale.
WCHA Preseason Player of the Year
Marc Michaelis, Sr., F, Minnesota State
Others receiving votes: Brandon Kruse, Jr., F, Bowling Green; Philip Beaulieu, Sr., D, Northern Michigan;
Max Johnson, Jr., F, Bowling Green; Dryden McKay, So., G, Minnesota State; Parker Tuomie, Sr., F, Minnesota State
Based on a 3-2-1 scale.
WCHA Preseason Rookie of the Year
Nathan Smith, F, Minnesota State
Others receiving votes: Jett Jungels, F, Northern Michigan; Dallas Tulik, F, Ferris State; Blake Pietela, G, Michigan Tech; Hank Sorenson, F, Northern Michigan; Ryan Sandelin, F, Minnesota State; Cade Borchert, F, Minnesota State; Logan Pietela, F, Michigan Tech; T.J. Lloyd, D, Bowling Green; Mason Palmer, D, Northern Michigan; Parker Saretsky, F, Michigan Tech; Louis Boudon, F, Lake Superior State; Cameron Babiak, D, Bowling Green; Dustin Manz, F, Lake Superior State; Samuel Solensky, F, Bemidji State
Based on a 3-2-1 scale.
Preseason All-WCHA Team
Forwards:
Marc Michaelis, Sr., Minnesota State
Parker Tuomie, Sr., Minnesota State
Brandon Kruse, Jr., Bowling Green
Defensemen:
Philip Beaulieu, Sr., D, Northern Michigan
Alec Rauhauser, Sr., D, Bowling Green
Goaltender
Dryden McKay, So., Minnesota State
Others receiving votes: F - Max Johnson, Jr., Bowling Green; Max Humitz, Sr., Lake Superior State; D - Collin Saccoman, Sr., Lake Superior State; Seamus Donohue, Jr., Michigan Tech; G - Zach Driscoll, Jr., Bemidji State
Players Mentioned
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