WCHA coaches, media pick Minnesota State

The Free Press' second annual WCHA Preseason Coaches Poll was released on Monday, and Minnesota State is the overwhelming choice to win the MacNaughton Cup.

The media who cover the league agreed, voting the Mavericks first in the Bemidji Pioneer media poll.

The coaches gave MSU nine of 10 first-place votes and also picked freshman forwards C.J. Franklin and Brad McClure as Co-Preseason Rookies of the Year.

Ferris State goaltender C.J. Motte was tabbed as Preseason Player of the Year, edging out MSU forward Matt Leitner. Leitner was the media's pick for Preseason Player of the Year.

Here's a look at both polls:

2014-15 Mankato Free Press WCHA Men’s Hockey Preseason Coaches’ Poll

Rk           Team (1^st place votes)          Points

1.            Minnesota State (9)                       81          
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

Predicted order of finish. Based on a 9-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1 scale. Coaches could not vote for their own teams.

Preseason WCHA Player of the Year: C.J. Motte, Sr., G, Ferris State (4 votes)

Others receiving votes: Matt Leitner, Sr., F, Minnesota State (3); Jean-Paul LaFontaine, Sr., F, Minnesota State (1); Scott Allen, Sr., F, Alaska Anchorage (1), Colton Parayko, Jr. D, Alaska (1)

Preseason WCHA Rookie of the Year: C.J. Franklin, F, Minnesota State and Brad McClure, F, Minnesota State (4 votes each)

Others receiving votes: Brett Beauvais, D, Bemidji State (1), Oliver Mantha, G, Alaska Anchorage (1)

Preseason All-WCHA Team

Forwards: Tyler Morley, Jr., Alaska; Jean-Paul LaFontaine, Sr., Minnesota State; Matt Leitner, Sr., Minnesota State

Defensemen: Colton Parayko, Jr., Alaska; Zach Palmquist, Sr., Minnesota State

Goaltender: C.J. Motte, Sr., Ferris State

Others receiving votes: Forwards—Scott Allen, Sr., Alaska Anchorage; Blake Tatchell, Jr., Alaska Anchorage; Justin Buzzeo, Sr., Ferris State; David Johnstone, Sr., Michigan Tech; Tanner Kero, Sr., Michigan Tech; Alex Petan, Jr., Michigan Tech; Blake Pietila, Sr., Michigan Tech. Defensemen—Austin Coldwell, Sr., Alaska Anchorage; Matt Prapavessis, Sr., Bemidji State; Jason Binkley, Sr., Ferris State; Shane Hanna, So., Michigan Tech. Goaltenders—Cole Huggins, So., Minnesota State.

2014-15 Bemidji Pioneer WCHA Men’s Hockey Preseason Media Poll Rk           Team (1st place votes)          Points 1.            Minnesota State (23)                  256           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 Predicted order of finish. Based on a 10-9-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1 scale. Preseason WCHA Player of the Year: Matt Leitner, Sr., F, Minnesota State Preseason WCHA Rookie of the Year: Mark Friedman, D, Bowling Green Preseason All-WCHA Team Forwards: Tyler Morley, Jr., Alaska; Jean-Paul LaFontaine, Sr., Minnesota State; Matt Leitner, Sr., Minnesota State Defensemen: Colton Parayko, Jr., Alaska; Shane Hanna, So., Michigan Tech Goaltender: C.J. Motte, Sr., Ferris State Participants Jack Hittinger, Bemidji Pioneer; Shane Frederick, Mankato Free Press; Tim O’Donnell, Fairbanks News-Miner; Jerry Taylor, ABC 10 UP sports director; Geof Morris, UAH Hockey.com; Michael Napier, UAH Hockey.com; Drew Evans, BGSU Hockey.com; Bruce Cech, Alaska Nanooks radio play-by-play; Chris Dilks, SBN College Hockey; Kevin Kurtt, Let’s Play Hockey Magazine; George Sipple, Detroit Free Press; Kurt Haider, Alaska-Anchorage radio play-by-play; Kevin Gordon, BGSU Hockey.com; Ryan Steig, Marquette Daily Mining Journal; Mike Sullivan, Minnesota State radio play by play; Greg Buckner, Big Rapids Pioneer; Scott Williams, Lakeland Sports & KBUN Bemidji; Ryan Satkowiak, Bowling Green Sentinel-Tribune; Justin Bradford, Penalty Box Radio Nashville; John Wagner, Toledo Blade; Dave Danis, Northern Michigan radio play by play; Brian Halverson, Minnesota Hockey Magazine; Lee Benson, Lakeland Public TV sports director; David Tuttle, Alaska-Anchorage color commentator; Rob Roos, Sault Ste. Marie Evening News; Brandon Veale, The Daily Mining Gazette (Houghton)