Last-ever WCHA preseason polls…UAA picked to finish 9th
Pre-season media and coaches polls have been released…enjoy!
2020-21 WCHA Preseason Coaches’ Poll
Rank Team (1st Place Votes) Points
1. Minnesota State (6) 86
2. Bemidji State (1) 79
3. Bowling Green (3) 78
4. Michigan Tech 64
5. Northern Michigan 63
6. Lake Superior State 49
7. Alaska 40
8. Ferris State 35
9. Alaska Anchorage 28
10. Alabama Huntsville 18
Coaches could not vote for their own teams. Based on a 10-9-8-7-6-5-4-3-2 scale.
WCHA Coaches’ Preseason Player of the Year (Votes)
Brandon Kruse, Sr., F, Bowling Green (4)
Dryden McKay, Jr. G, Minnesota State (4)
Others Receiving Votes: Connor Ford, Sr., F, Bowling Green (1); Trenton Bliss, Jr., F, Michigan Tech (1)
WCHA Coaches’ Preseason Rookie of the Year (Votes)
Akito Hirose, D, Minnesota State (3)
Others Receiving Votes: Carson Bantle, F, Michigan Tech (2); Brendan Furry, F, Minnesota State (2); Jake Livingstone, D,
Minnesota State (1); Logan Stein, G, Ferris State (1); Ethan Scardina, F, Bowling Green (1)
Coaches’ Preseason All-WCHA Team (Votes)
Forwards: Griffin Loughran, Jr., Northern Michigan (7); Brandon Kruse, Sr., Bowling Green (7); Connor Ford, Sr., Bowling
Green (4); Lucas Sowder, So., Minnesota State (4)
Others Receiving Votes: Owen Sillinger, Jr, Bemidji State (3); Nathan Smith, So., Minnesota State (3); Alec Broetzman, Jr.,
Michigan Tech (1); Trenton Bliss, Jr., Michigan Tech (1).
Defensemen: Elias Rosén, So., Bemidji State (7); Chris Jandric, Jr., Alaska (6)
Others Receiving Votes: Jake Willets, So., Ferris State (4); Colin Swoyer, Jr., Michigan Tech (3)
Goaltender: Dryden McKay, Jr., Minnesota State (7)Others Receiving Votes: Zach Driscoll, Sr., Bemidji State (3)
2020-21 WCHA Preseason Media Poll
Rank Team (1st Place Votes) Points
1. Minnesota State (10) 100
2. Bemidji State 89
3. Bowling Green 76
4. Northern Michigan 68
5. Michigan Tech 67
6. Lake Superior State 44
7. Alaska 40
8. Ferris State 33
9. Alaska Anchorage 21
10. Alabama Huntsville 12
Predicted order of finish. Based on a 10-9-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1 scale.
WCHA Preseason Media Player of the Year (Votes)
Dryden McKay, Jr., G, Minnesota State (25)
Others Receiving Votes: Griffin Loughran, Jr., F, Northern Michigan (21); Owen Sillinger, Jr., F, Bemidji State (5); Zach
Driscoll, Sr., G, Bemidji State (2); Brandon Kruse, Sr., F, Bowling Green (2); Nathan Smith, So., F, Minnesota State (2);
Connor Ford, Sr., F, Bowling Green (1); Colin Swoyer, Jr., D, Michigan Tech (1).
Based on a 3-2-1 scale.
WCHA Preseason Media Rookie of the Year (Votes)
Carson Bantle, F, Michigan Tech (16)
Others Receiving Votes: Akito Hirose, D, Minnesota State (14); Tanner Edwards, F, Minnesota State (3); Connor Gregga, F,
Minnesota State (3); Anton Malmstrom, D, Bowling Green (3); Lukas Sillinger, F, Bemidji State (3); Aaron Myers, F, Bemidj
State (3); Ondrej Pavel, F, Minnesota State (3); Grant Johnson, F, Northern Michigan (3); Jed Pietila, D, Michigan Tech (2);
Jake Livingstone, D, Minnesota State (2); Jett Jungels, F, Northern Michigan (2); Logan Stein, G, Ferris State (1); Joshua
Wildauer, F, Lake Superior State (1); Mack Byers, F, Northern Michigan (1).
Based on a 3-2-1 scale.
Preseason Media All-WCHA Team (Votes)
Forwards: Griffin Loughran, Jr. Northern Michigan (10); Connor Ford, Sr., Bowling Green (7); Owen Sillinger, Jr., Bemidji
State (5).
Others Receiving Votes: Brandon Kruse, Sr., Bowling Green (3) Lucas Sowder, So., Minnesota State (2); Nathan Smith, So.,
Minnesota State (1); Jared Spooner, Sr., Minnesota State (1); Trenton Bliss, Jr., Michigan Tech (1).
Defensemen: Elias Rosén, So., Bemidji State (9); Jake Willets, So., Ferris State (6).
Others Receiving Votes: Chris Jandric, Jr., Alaska (2); Colin Swoyer, Jr., Michigan Tech (1); Tim Theochardis, Jr., Bowling
Green (1); Jack McNeely, Sr., Minnesota State (1).
Goaltender: Dryden McKay, Jr., Minnesota State (10).
Others Receiving Votes: None
