Mavericks picked first by WCHA coaches

The choice was easy — and as unanimous as it could be.

After losing just one regular player from last season’s Western Collegiate Hockey Association regular-season and playoff title team, the Minnesota State men’s hockey team was picked to once again be the league champion by the league’s coaches.

(For an updated story, go here.)

The Mavericks, who went 32-8-2 (22-5-1 in WCHA) last season, received the maximum 90 points on nine first-place votes in the eighth annual Mankato Free Press WCHA Preseason Coaches Poll. Coaches could not vote for their own teams.

The Mavericks also were picked in the poll’s preseason player and rookie of the year voting, with senior forward Marc Michaelis and freshman forward Nathan Smith receiving the honors.

Bowling Green was picked second with 82 points and had the other first-place vote.

From there, coaches are expecting another tight race with just five points separating third through sixth place. Bemidji State was third with 63 points, followed by Northern Michigan with 61, Michigan Tech with 59 and Lake Superior State with 58.

Alaska was picked seventh with 39 points, and Ferris State was eighth with 38. Alabama Huntsville was ninth with 30 points., and Alaska Anchorage rounded out the poll with 20.

Michaelis received nine of 10 votes in preseason player of the year voting. The native of Mannheim, Germany, had 42 points last season, including 19 goals, in 42 games, with 10 goals and 24 points coming in conference play. In three seasons at MSU, Michaelis has racked up 51 goals and 118 points in 117 games.

Smith got eight votes for the rookie award. The Hudson, Florida, native comes to MSU from Cedar Rapids of the USHL where he led the RoughRiders in scoring with 18 goals and 53 points in 59 games last season. He is a 2018 third-round draft pick of the Winnipeg Jets.

The Preseason All-WCHA Team included Michaelis and two MSU teammates, fellow senior forward Parker Tuomie and sophomore goaltender Dryden McKay. Bowling Green had two players, junior forward Brandon Kruse and senior defenseman Alec Rauhauser. Northern Michigan senior Philip Beaulieu was the other defenseman.

Here are the results of the poll:

Place Team Points (1st place)
1. Minnesota State 90 (9)
2. Bowling Green 82 (1)
3. Bemidji State 63
4. Northern Michigan 61
5. Michigan Tech 59
6. Lake Superior State 58
7. Alaska 39
8. Ferris State 38
9. Alabama Huntsville 30
10. Alaska Anchorage 20

Preseason Player of the Year (votes)
Marc Michaelis, F, Minnesota State (9)
Others: Parker Tuomie, F, Minnesota State (1)

Preseason Rookie of the Year (votes)
Nathan Smith, F, Minnesota State (8)
Others, Colby Bukes, D, Minnesota State (1); Samuel Solensky, F, Bemidji State (1)

Preseason All-WCHA (votes)
F—Marc Michaelis, MSU (10)
F—Parker Tuomie, MSU (9)
F—Brandon Kruse, BGSU (6)
D—Philip Beaulieu, NMU (9)
D—Alec Rauhauser, BGSU (5)
G—Dryden McKay, MSU (9)
Others: F—Max Johnson, BGSU (3), Brian Halonen, MTU (1), Max Humitz, LSSU (1); D—Connor Mackey, MSU (4), Collin Saccoman, LSSU (1), Ian Scheid, MSU (1); G—Matt Jurusik, MTU (1)