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Minnesota State Dominates WCHA Preseason Poll, Individual Accolades

Minnesota State was picked to win the new WCHA by the media in the preseason poll.

Larry Radloff

Minnesota State took home the top spot in the WCHA Preseason Media Poll as well as the top individual honors handed out at yesterday's league media day.

Rank Team (First Place Votes) Points
1 Minnesota State (22) 244
2 Ferris State (2) 218
3 Alaska-Fairbanks 168
4 Bowling Green 149
5 Michigan Tech 144
6 Northern Michigan 137
7 Lake Superior 117
8 Bemidji State (1) 108
9 Alaska-Anchorage 54
10 Alabama-Huntsville 36

Minnesota State junior forward Matt Leitner took home the honor of WCHA Preseason Player of the Year. The Los Alamitos, Calif. native tallied 17 goals and 30 assists last season for the Mavericks. MSU freshman Zach Stepan was pegged as the WCHA Preseason Rookie of the Year. The Fairbault, Minn. native played prep hockey at Shattuck St. Mary's before playing a year in the USHL with the Waterloo Blackhawks.  Stepan, originally an Ohio State recruit before de-committing from the Buckeyes, had 35 goals  and 47 assists for P.K. O'Handley's Waterloo team last season.

The league's media also picked a preseason all-conference team.

Forward: Matt Leitner, Minnesota State

Forward: Alex Petan, Michigan Tech

Forward: Ryan Carpenter, Bowling Green

Defense: Jason Binkley, Ferris State

Defense: Zach Palmquist, Minnesota State

Goaltender: Stephon Williams, Minnesota State

Jeff Cox covers college and junior hockey, recruiting, NHL Draft prospects and the AHL for SBNation. Follow him on twitter @JeffCoxSBNation.