University of Minnesota Athletics
Gophers Picked Second in WCHA Preseason Poll
9/27/2007 12:00:00 AM | Men's Hockey
The two-time defending Western Collegiate Hockey Association (WCHA) champion Minnesota Golden Gophers have been picked to finish second in the league in 2007-08, according to the Grand Forks Herald's annual preseason coaches’ poll released Wednesday.
The Gophers received three of the 10 first-place votes and were the only team beside preseason WCHA favorite North Dakota to earn a vote for the league’s top spot.
North Dakota’s Ryan Duncan was named the Preseason WCHA Player of the Year, while Kyle Turris of Wisconsin was selected as the league’s Preseason Rookie of the Year.
Minnesota sophomore Kyle Okposo also received a vote for WCHA Preseason Player of the Year. He totaled 40 points (19-2140) last season and is one of six returning Gophers to tally at least 20 points a year ago.
The Golden Gophers will hold their annual preseason media day at Mariucci Arena on Wednesday, Oct. 3, at 12:00 p.m.
Minnesota opens its 2007-08 season on Friday, Oct. 12, on FSN North in game two of the Ice Breaker Invitational at Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul against Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) at 7:30 p.m.
Grand Forks Herald
2007-08 Preseason WCHA Coaches' Poll
Rk School (1st Place Votes), Points
1. North Dakota (7), 79
2. Minnesota (3), 74
3. Colorado College, 55
4. Denver, 53
5. Wisconsin, 52
6. St. Cloud State, 43
7. Michigan Tech, 41
8. Minnesota Duluth, 23
9. Minnesota State, Mankato, 19
10. Alaska Anchorage, 11
Preseason WCHA Player of the Year: Ryan Duncan, UND, 5; T.J. Oshie, UND, 3; Taylor Chorney, UND, 1; Kyle Okposo, Minn., 1.
Preseason WCHA Rookie of the Year: Kyle Turris, UW, 9; Evan Trupp, UND.
