University of Minnesota Athletics
Minnesota and Wisconsin Picked First in WCHA Preseason Coaches Poll
10/3/2006 12:00:00 AM | Men's Hockey
The University of Minnesota and University of Wisconsin men’s hockey teams were picked to finish first in the 36th annual Grand Forks Herald WCHA Preseason Coaches Poll. The Golden Gophers received five of 10 first-place votes and 74 points, while the Badgers got three first-place votes. North Dakota received the other two first-place votes. The Maroon and Gold became the preseason favorite for the second consecutive season and the third time in four years. Last season, Minnesota became the first preseason favorite to win the conference title since UND in 1998-99.
Following Minnesota and Wisconsin was North Dakota (66 points), Denver (55), St. Cloud State (48), Minnesota Duluth (45), Colorado College (37), Michigan Tech (19), Minnesota State (18) and Alaska Anchorage (14).
In addition, freshman defenseman Erik Johnson (Bloomington, Minn.) was voted the WCHA Preseason Rookie of the Year with four votes. Forward Kyle Okposo (St. Paul, Minn.) received three votes, followed by UMD goaltender Alex Stalock with two and DU forward Brock Trotter with one. Wisconsin goaltender Brian Elliott was named the WCHA Preseason Player of the Year with six votes, followed by UND forwards Jonathan Toews (2) and T.J. Oshie (2).
The Golden Gophers open the 2006-07 campaign on Friday, Oct. 6, at 7:07 p.m., against 11th-ranked Maine in the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame Game at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul. On Sunday, Oct. 8, Minnesota hosts the University of Lethbridge in an exhibition game at 7:07 p.m., at Mariucci Arena.
Last season, Minnesota won the WCHA Regular Season Championship for the first time since 1996-97 and earned a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament for the fourth consecutive season. With a 27-9-5 overall record, the Maroon and Gold finished the 2005-06 season with its fewest losses (9) since the 2002-03 National Champion Golden Gophers went 28-8-9.
The Maroon and Gold will be deep at forward in 2006-07 with the likes of Ben Gordon, Ryan Stoa, Blake Wheeler, a deep incoming freshman class and the return to the lineup of Minnesota’s 2004-05 leading scorer Tyler Hirsch. At the blue line, the Golden Gophers own an imposing mix of offense and defense with Alex Goligoski, Mike Vannelli, Derek Peltier and Johnson leading the way. In net, Minnesota will again look to senior Kellen Briggs and sophomore Jeff Frazee to backstop the Maroon and Gold to another banner-raising season.
36th annual Grand Forks Herald WCHA Preseason Coaches Poll (first-place votes in parentheses)
t1. Minnesota, 74 (5)
t1. Wisconsin, 74 (3)
3. North Dakota, 51 (2)
4. Denver, 65
5. St. Cloud State, 20
6. Minnesota Duluth, 37
7. Colorado College, 65
8. Michigan Tech, 14
9. Minnesota State, 35
10. Alaska Anchorage, 19
Following Minnesota and Wisconsin was North Dakota (66 points), Denver (55), St. Cloud State (48), Minnesota Duluth (45), Colorado College (37), Michigan Tech (19), Minnesota State (18) and Alaska Anchorage (14).
In addition, freshman defenseman Erik Johnson (Bloomington, Minn.) was voted the WCHA Preseason Rookie of the Year with four votes. Forward Kyle Okposo (St. Paul, Minn.) received three votes, followed by UMD goaltender Alex Stalock with two and DU forward Brock Trotter with one. Wisconsin goaltender Brian Elliott was named the WCHA Preseason Player of the Year with six votes, followed by UND forwards Jonathan Toews (2) and T.J. Oshie (2).
The Golden Gophers open the 2006-07 campaign on Friday, Oct. 6, at 7:07 p.m., against 11th-ranked Maine in the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame Game at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul. On Sunday, Oct. 8, Minnesota hosts the University of Lethbridge in an exhibition game at 7:07 p.m., at Mariucci Arena.
Last season, Minnesota won the WCHA Regular Season Championship for the first time since 1996-97 and earned a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament for the fourth consecutive season. With a 27-9-5 overall record, the Maroon and Gold finished the 2005-06 season with its fewest losses (9) since the 2002-03 National Champion Golden Gophers went 28-8-9.
The Maroon and Gold will be deep at forward in 2006-07 with the likes of Ben Gordon, Ryan Stoa, Blake Wheeler, a deep incoming freshman class and the return to the lineup of Minnesota’s 2004-05 leading scorer Tyler Hirsch. At the blue line, the Golden Gophers own an imposing mix of offense and defense with Alex Goligoski, Mike Vannelli, Derek Peltier and Johnson leading the way. In net, Minnesota will again look to senior Kellen Briggs and sophomore Jeff Frazee to backstop the Maroon and Gold to another banner-raising season.
36th annual Grand Forks Herald WCHA Preseason Coaches Poll (first-place votes in parentheses)
t1. Minnesota, 74 (5)
t1. Wisconsin, 74 (3)
3. North Dakota, 51 (2)
4. Denver, 65
5. St. Cloud State, 20
6. Minnesota Duluth, 37
7. Colorado College, 65
8. Michigan Tech, 14
9. Minnesota State, 35
10. Alaska Anchorage, 19
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