Swankler Named CCHA Preseason Rookie Of The Year; Falcons Tabbed Fifth

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BOWLING GREEN, Ohio – The Central Collegiate Hockey Association (CCHA) released the results of the preseason coaches' poll, with the Bowling Green Falcons being selected fifth. Freshman forward Austen Swankler was tabbed Preseason Rookie of the Year.

Swankler most recently played for the Erie Otters of the OHL, scoring 45 points (18 goals, 27 assists) in 59 games. He has also played for the Sioux Fall Stampede of the USHL. The North Huntingdon, Pa., native helped the Stampede win the 2019 USHL Clark Cup.

The Falcons will join seven other schools in the reestablished CCHA, which will be active for the first time since 2013. BGSU played in the CCHA from 1971-2013, winning seven regular season titles and five CCHA Tournament crowns.

The official results from the preseason polls can be found below. The official CCHA Coaches' Poll release can be found HERE. The official release for CCHA Preseason Rookie of the Year can be found HERE.

2021-22 CCHA Preseason Coaches' Poll Results
1. Minnesota State – 67 (5 first place votes)
2. Bemidji State – 63 (1)
3. Michigan Tech – 55 (2)
4. Northern Michigan – 54
5. Bowling Green – 46
6. Lake Superior State – 45
7. Ferris State – 32
8. St. Thomas – 30

2021-22 CCHA Preseason All-Conference Team
F Julian Napravnik, Sr., Minnesota State
F Nathan Smith, Jr., Minnesota State – (Preseason Player of the Year)
F Joseph Nardi, Sr., Northern Michigan
D Akito Hirose, So., Minnesota State
D Colin Swoyer, Sr., Michigan Tech
G Dryden McKay, Sr., Minnesota State – (Preseason Goaltender of the Year)

Others receiving votes: Trenton Bliss, Sr., F, Michigan Tech; Louis Boudon, Jr. F, Lake Superior State; Andre Ghantous, Jr., F, Northern Michigan; Owen Sillinger, Sr., F, Bemidji State. Elias Rosén, Jr., D, Bemidji State; Jacob Nordqvist, Sr., D, Lake Superior State.

Ty's Take
"The preseason coaches' poll is something that we kind of anticipated having lost 11 players from last year's team. This year's team has an opportunity to write its own story and all of us are very excited for our CCHA and non-conference seasons.

Austen being tabbed as the Preseason Rookie of the Year is nice to see. He is a talented young player, who has an opportunity to be a really good college hockey player."

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