Friday, September 28, 2012

Leagues Tab Preseason Favorites

Leagues Tab Preseason Favorites
Union won both the regular-season and playoff championships in ECAC Hockey last season.

Three Frozen Four teams from last spring and another NCAA Tournament squad are favored in their respective leagues according to the preseason polls released by Atlantic Hockey, ECAC Hockey, Hockey East and the WCHA. The favorites in the four leagues all won their regular-season titles last season.

The CCHA has a bit different prognosis, with coaches picking Notre Dame as the preseason favorite following a disappointing season in which the Irish failed to reach the NCAA Tournament. CCHA media pegged Michigan at No. 1.

Atlantic Hockey – Defending regular season and tournament champion Air Force got the nod from the league’s coaches, capturing eight of the 12 first-place votes.

CCHA – Coaches and media were split on the preseason favorites, with Notre Dame and Michigan, respectively, taking top honors.

ECAC Hockey – League coaches and media both pick Union as the favorite to repeat as champion in ECAC Hockey.

Hockey East – For the fifth year in a row, Boston College is the coaches’ choice to win Hockey East. The defending national champions received nine out of 10 first-place votes.

WCHA – The preseason media poll was nearly unanimous, with Minnesota earning 24 of 25 first-place votes.