:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/40409428/Screenshot_2014-09-29_at_12.19.08_PM.0.png)
The preseason polls for both the coaches and media for the upcoming WCHA season were released today, and Minnesota State was picked in the favorite in the conference in both polls.
First here, here was the media poll conducted by Shane Frederick of the Mankato Free Press:
2. Ferris State (1) 67
3. Michigan Tech 64
4. Bowling Green 57
5. Alaska 44
6. Northern Michigan 40
7. Alaska Anchorage 38
8. Bemidji State 33
9. Lake Superior State 17
10. Alabama Huntsville 9
Coaches couldn't vote their own team for first place, so Mike Hastings was the lone coach to give Ferris State a first-place vote.
The coaches tabbed Ferris State goalie CJ Motte as the preseason player of the year. Motte received four votes, with Minnesota State's Matt Leitner receiving three, and Minnesota State's Jean-Paul LaFontaine, Alaska-Anchorage's Scott Allen, and Alaska-Fairbanks Colton Parayko all receiving a single vote.
Newcomer of the year was split between Minnesota State's CJ Franklin and Brad McClure, with Bemidji State's Brett Beauvais and Alaska-Anchorage's Olivier Mantha each receiving a vote.
Here is the coaches preseason all-conference team:
The results were largely the same in the media poll, conducted this year by Jack Hittinger of the Bemidji Pioneer.
2. Ferris State (4) 226
3. Bowling Green 180
4. Michigan Tech 178
5. Alaska 163
6. Alaska Anchorage 128
7. Northern Michigan 112
8. Bemidji State 101
9. Lake Superior State 60
10. Alabama Huntsville 26
And here's how the media voted on individual awards: