WCHA announces preseason polls, preseason player of the year and all-conference team
By @MichaelCaples –
The WCHA announced its 2016-17 preseason coaches and media polls, as well as its player of the year and preseason all-conference team selections.
The conference’s preseason coaches poll is as follows:
- Bowling Green
- Michigan Tech
- Minnesota State
- Ferris State
- Northern Michigan
- Bemidji State
- Lake Superior State
- Alaska Anchorage
- Alabama Huntsville
- Alaska
Preseason WCHA Player of the Year
Gerald Mayhew, Sr. F, Ferris State (7 votes)
Others receiving votes: Mark Friedman, Jr. D, Bowling Green (1); Brandon Hawkins, Jr. F, Bowling Green (1); Chris Nell, Jr. F, Bowling Green (1)
Preseason WCHA Rookie of the Year
Parker Tuomie, F, Minnesota State (4 votes)
Others receiving votes: Cam Clarke, D, Ferris State (2); Colton Leiter, F, Alaska (1); Marc Michaelis, F, Minnesota State (1); Collin Peters, F, Northern Michigan (1); Angus Redmond, G, Michigan Tech (1)
Preseason All-WCHA Team
Forwards
Gerald Mayhew, Sr., Ferris State; Dominik Shine, Sr., Northern Michigan; Brandon Hawkins, Jr., Bowling Green (tie); Corey Mackin, So., Ferris State (tie)
Defensemen
Mark Friedman, Jr., Bowling Green; Matt Roy, Jr., Michigan Tech
Goaltender
Chris Nell, Jr., Bowling Green
Others receiving votes (listed alphabetically by position): Forwards—Gerry Fitzgerald, Jr., Bemidji State; C.J. Franklin, Jr., Minnesota State; Brendan Harms, Tyler Heinonen, Sr., Michigan Tech; Sr., BSU; Joel L’Esperance, Jr., Michigan Tech. Defensemen—Mark Auk, Jr., Michigan Tech; Daniel Brickley, So., Minnesota State; Shane Hanna, Sr., Michigan Tech; Sean Walker, Sr., Bowling Green. Goaltenders—Michael Bitzer, Jr., Bemidji State; Gordon Defiel, Jr., Lake Superior State; Cole Huggins, Sr., Minnesota State; Darren Smith, So., Ferris State.
Media poll, selections
- Bowling Green
- Michigan Tech
- Minnesota State
- Ferris State
- Northern Michigan
- Bemidji State
- Lake Superior State
- Alaska
- Alabama Huntsville
- Alaska Anchorage
Preseason WCHA Player of the Year
Gerald Mayhew, Sr., F, Ferris State
Others receiving votes: Dominik Shine, Sr., F, Northern Michigan; Sean Walker, Sr., D, Bowling Green; Cameron Clarke, Fr., D, Ferris State; Mason Mitchell, So., F, Alaska Anchorage; Corey Mackin, So., F, Ferris State; Max McHugh, Jr., F, Alabama Huntsville; Chris Nell, Jr., G, Bowling Green; Cole Huggins, Sr., G, Minnesota State; Tyler Heinonen, Sr., F, Michigan Tech.
Preseason WCHA Rookie of the Year
Cameron Clarke, D, Ferris State
Others receiving votes: Parker Tuomie, F, Minnesota State; Hampus Sjodahl, F, Bemidji State; Alec Rauhauser, D, Bowling Green; Frederic Letourneau, F, Bowling Green; Max Humitz, F, Lake Superior State; Brayden Gelsinger, F, Lake Superior State; Thomas Beretta, F, Michigan Tech; Mitch Reinke, D, Michigan Tech; Casey Linkenheld, F, Bowling Green; Adam Brady, F, Bemidji State; Connor James, D, Alabama Huntsville; Austin Beaulieu, F, Alabama Huntsville.
Preseason All-WCHA Team
Forwards
Gerald Mayhew, Sr., Ferris State; Dominik Shine, Sr., Northern Michigan; Tyler Heinonen, Sr., Michigan Tech
Defensemen
Mark Friedman, Jr., Bowling Green; Matt Roy, Jr., Michigan Tech
Goaltender
Chris Nell, Jr., Bowling Green