On Monday, the WCHA released the results of the preseason media and coaches polls, as well as the preseason player of the year, newcomer of the year and All-WCHA team.

The defending WCHA champion Minnesota State Mavericks earned a nearly unanimous-selection by WCHA coaches to repeat as conference champions in 2015-16. Among the nine coaches eligible to vote for the Mavericks – Minnesota State head coach Mike Hastings was not allowed to vote for his own team – eight ranked the reigning champions first, while one coach ranked them second. Michigan Tech and Bowling Green also received first place votes (one from Hastings) in the poll conducted by the Mankato Free Press.

The media poll, conducted by the Bemidji Pioneer, agreed with the coaches poll about the lead contender – albeit not nearly as unanimously – with Minnesota State also taking the top spot, earning 12 of 29 first place votes among WCHA media members but only earning the top spot by two total points.

After the top spot, the coaches and media disagreed a bit as the coaches selected Bowling Green to finish second (by one point), while the media selected Bowling Green to finish third. For the rest of the polls, both the media’s and the coaches’ selections were the same.

Alabama-Huntsville – through which Penalty Box Radio holds its WCHA voting privileges – finished eighth in both polls, which would qualify the Chargers for the last spot in the WCHA Playoffs.

Here are results of the two polls:

2015-16 Mankato Free Press WCHA Men’s Hockey Preseason Coaches’ Poll
Team (1st Place Votes)		Pts.
1.	Minnesota State (8)	89
2.	Bowling Green (1)	79
3.	Michigan Tech (1)	78
4.	Bemidji State	61
5.	Alaska	55
6.	Ferris State	51
7.	Northern Michigan	49
8.	Alabama Huntsville	29
9.	Alaska Anchorage	27
10.	Lake Superior State	22
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 Player of the Year: Tyler Morley, Alaska

Preseason Rookie of the Year: Corey Mackin, Ferris State

Preseason All-WCHA Team:
F – Tyler Morley, Alaska
F – Bryce Gervais, Minnesota State
F – Alex Petan, Michigan Tech
D – Shane Hanna, Michigan Tech
D – Casey Nelson, Minnesota State
G – Jamie Phillips, Michigan Tech

2015-16 Bemidji Pioneer WCHA Men’s Hockey Preseason Media Poll
Team (1st Place Votes)		Pts.
1.	Minnesota State (12)	265
2.	Michigan Tech (9)	263
3.	Bowling Green (8)	250
4.	Bemidji State	184
5.	Alaska	164
6.	Ferris State	142
7.	Northern Michigan	138
8.	Alabama Huntsville	88
9.	Lake Superior State	54
10.	Alaska Anchorage	47
Predicted order of finish. Based on a 10-9-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1 scale.

Preseason Player of the Year: Bryce Gervais, Minnesota State

Preseason Rookie of the Year: Stephen Baylis, Bowling Green

Preseason All-WCHA Team:
F – Tyler Morley, Alaska
F – Bryce Gervais, Minnesota State
F – Alex Petan, Michigan Tech
D – Shane Hanna, Michigan Tech
D – Casey Nelson, Minnesota State
G – Jamie Phillips, Michigan Tech

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Penalty Box Radio Ballots

Penalty Box Radio had two votes in the media poll.

Patten Fuqua’s Ballot:

Rankings:

1. 1. Michigan Tech
2. 2. Minnesota State
3. 3. Bowling Green
4. 4. Alaska
5. 5. Bemidji State
6. 6. Alabama-Huntsville
7. 7. Northern Michigan
8. 8. Ferris State
9. 9. Alaska-Anchorage
10. 10. Lake Superior State

Player of the Year: Tyler Morley, Alaska

Rookie of the Year: Corey Mackin, Ferris State

All-WCHA Team:
F – Tyler Morley, Alaska
F – Alex Petan, Michigan Tech
F – Bryce Gervais, Minnesota State
D – Casey Nelson, Minnesota State
D – Shane Hanna, Michigan Tech
G – Jamie Phillips, Michigan Tech
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Justin Bradford’s Ballot:

Rankings:

1. 1. Michigan Tech
2. 2. Bowling Green
3. 3. Minnesota State
4. 4. Alaska
5. 5. Bemidji State
6. 6. Alabama-Huntsville
7. 7. Northern Michigan
8. 8. Ferris State
9. 9. Lake Superior State
10. 10. Alaska-Anchorage

Player of the Year: Alex Petan, Michigan Tech

Rookie of the Year: Jetlan Houcher, Alabama-Huntsville

All-WCHA Team:
F – Tyler Morley, Alaska
F – Alex Petan, Michigan Tech
F – Matt Robertson, Ferris State
D – Casey Nelson, Minnesota State
D – Mark Friedman, Bowling Green
G – Carmine Guerriero, Alabama-Huntsville
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