Media daze

The new Big Ten and National Collegiate Hockey Conference held competing media days today with the former taking place at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul and the latter at the Target Center in Minneapolis. The WCHA will continue to hold its preseason media event via conference call, and that will take place on Wednesday (Sept. 25).

During Thursday's events, the new leagues unveiled their preseason predictions. The WCHA will do the same next week. Here are the polls:

Big Ten
1. Wisconsin
2. Minnesota
3. Michigan
4. (tie) Michigan State
4. (tie) Ohio State
6. Penn State

Players to watch: Kyle Rau, F, Minnesota (unanimous pick); Alex Guptill, F, Michigan; Matt Berry, F, Michigan State; Ryan Dzingel, F, Ohio State; Max McCormick, F, Ohio State; Nic Kerdiles, F, Wisconsin; Michael Mersch, F, Wisconsin; Mark Zengerle, F, Wisconsin; Mac Bennett, D, Michigan; Mike Reilly, D, Minnesota; Jake McCabe, D, Wisconsin; Adam Wilcox, G, Minnesota; Jake Hildebrand, G, Michigan State.

NCHC
1. Miami (7 first-place votes)
2. North Dakota (5)
3. St. Cloud State (4)
4. Denver
5. Western Michigan
6. Minnesota Duluth
7. Colorado College
8. Nebraska Omaha

Not that it matters much, but I was surprised that the NCHC didn't do any preseason player awards or, like the Big Ten, watch list. The WCHA will have a preseason player of the year and rookie pick as well as a preseason all-league team.

Meanwhile, Atlantic Hockey also released its preseason poll this week. Here it is:

Atlantic Hockey
1. Niagara (3)
2. (tie) Mercyhurst (4)
2. (tie) Air Force (2)
4. Canisius (3)
5. RIT
6. Connecticut
7. Robert Morris
8. Holy Cross
9. Bentley
10. Army
11. American International
12. Sacred Heart