RedHawks Picked Second in Both CCHA Preseason Polls
9/28/2011 12:00:00 AM | Hockey
Sept. 28, 2011
FARMINGTON HILLS, Mich. - Despite being ranked No. 1 in the country in multiple preseason national polls, the Miami University hockey team was tabbed to finish second in the Central Collegiate Hockey Association in both the CCHA preseason coaches and media polls, the league office announced Wednesday.
The RedHawks received two of a possible 10 first-place votes in the coaches poll, totaling 99 points, while garnering 16 first-place votes and 772 points in the media poll. Notre Dame, last year's CCHA regular-season runner-up, was selected as the favorite to win the league in both polls as the Irish claimed eight first-place votes from the coaches and finished nine points ahead of Miami in the coaches poll while picking up 44 first-place votes from the media for 819 points. It is just the second time in the last six years that the coaches and media agree on the top spot in the preseason polls.
Miami, who finished third in the CCHA during 2010-11, returns 16 letterwinners from last year's squad that captured the program's first Mason Cup by winning the CCHA Tournament and a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament. Included in the group of returning letterwinners is five defensemen, led by Preseason Second-Team All-CCHA selections Will Weber (Gaylord, Mich.) and Chris Wideman (St. Louis, Mo.). The 'Hawks also bring back both starting goalies, including Preseason First-Team All-League honoree Cody Reichard (Celina, Ohio), and junior forward Reilly Smith (Mimico, Ont.), who is the leading returning goal scorer in the nation and was also named Preseason All-CCHA First Team.
Behind Miami in both preseason polls is last year's regular-season champion Michigan in third. The Wolverines picked up the remaining first-place vote in the coaches poll and were six points behind the RedHawks with 93 points while gathering 12 first-place votes from the media, the only other team to do so. Western Michigan and Alaska rounded out the top five, respectively, in both polls.
In the coaches poll, Northern Michigan came in at No. 6 followed by Ohio State at No. 7 and Michigan State at No. 8. Ferris State, Lake Superior State and Bowling Green completed the coaches poll in spots nine through 11, respectively.
The media differed somewhat on the final six places, picking Michigan State sixth while Ferris State and Northern Michigan tied for seventh. Ohio State landed at No. 9 in the media poll while the final two spots are the same as the coaches with Lake Superior State at No. 10 and Bowling Green rounding it out in 11th.
A total of 72 media members ranked the 11 CCHA teams in projected order of finish for the regular season. Points were awarded on an 11-10-9-8, etc., basis. League coaches ranked the CCHA teams, excluding their own school, in the order they predicted the regular season will end.
Miami opens the season Sunday, Oct. 2 with an exhibition game against Windsor at 3 p.m. at Steve Cady Arena. The RedHawks then begin regular-season play hosting Bemidji State Oct. 7-8.
Coaches Poll (first-place votes)
1. Notre Dame (8), 108
2. Miami (2), 99
3. Michigan (1), 93
4. Western Michigan, 83
5. Alaska, 63
6. Northern Michigan, 60
7. Ohio State, 56
8. Michigan State, 51
9. Ferris State, 50
10. Lake Superior, 30
11. Bowling Green, 22
Media Poll (first-place votes)
1. Notre Dame (44), 819
2. Miami (16), 772
3. Michigan (12), 757
4. Western Michigan, 604
5. Alaska, 449
6. Michigan State, 439
7. Ferris State, 425
7. Northern Michigan (tie), 425
9. Ohio State, 386
10. Lake Superior, 298
11. Bowling Green, 170
--MURedHawks.com--
