/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/20854187/424121_525882490775344_1031560828_n.0.jpg)
A new college hockey season is upon us, and for fans in the western part of the country, this year will be a completely new experience for them. We've already previewed each of the new conferences, but what good does a conference ranking do if you've never seen half the teams in your new conference, and couldn't find some of them on a map(Trick question. 'Kalamazoo' is a fictional place, and thus, can't be found on any map)?
To help ease that transition, we've combined the three western conferences into one 24-team super ranking for the WCHA/B1G/NCHC to give fans some idea of how their team stacks up to some of their old rivals.
1. Miami
2. Wisconsin
3.North Dakota
4. St. Cloud
5. Minnesota
6. Minnesota State
7. Western Michigan
8. Ferris State
9. Nebraska-Omaha
10. Michigan
11. Michigan Tech
12. Denver
13. Alaska
14. Michigan State
15. Minnesota-Duluth
16. Bemidji State
17. Bowling Green
18. Ohio State
19. Colorado College
20. Lake Superior
21. Alaska-Anchorage
22. Penn State
23. Northern Michigan
24. Alabama-Huntsville
The line for teams that will make the NCAA tournament is probably somewhere around the top 8-9. That number could stretch a little more if teams play well against eastern opponents, or shrink a little with any upsets in the conference tournaments. And those conference tourney upsets seem a lot more likely this year, with fewer at-large spots in each conference.
Also, here is our preseason western All-America team:
1st Team
F-Austin Czarnik, Miami
F- Ryan Walters, Nebraska-Omaha
F- Matt Leitner, Minnesota State
D-Joey LaLeggia, Denver
D-Jake McCabe, Wisconsin
G-Adam Wilcox, Minnesota
2nd Team
F-Mark Zengerle, Wisconsin
F-Nic Kerdiles, Wisconsin
F-Chase Balisy, Western Michigan
D-Dillon Simpson, North Dakota
D-Mac Bennett, Michigan
G-Ryan McKay, Miami
All-Rookie Team
F-Taylor Cammarata, Minnesota
F-Dom Toninato, Minnesota-Duluth
F-Jake Guentzel, Nebraska-Omaha
D-Gustav Olofsson, Colorado College
D-Michael Brodzinski, Minnesota
G-Eamon McAdam, Penn State
Player of the Year: Austin Czarnik, Miami
Rookie of the Year: Taylor Cammarata, Minnesota