Mens College Hockey: WCHA Coaches pick Denver as favorites for MacNaughton Cup; Beavers picked 10th

With the official beginning of the 2011-12 season just days away, the Western Collegiate Hockey Association (WCHA) coaches have entered their predictions for the upcoming season as the Grand Forks Herald unveiled its 41st Annual Preseason WCHA Coaches’ Poll.

League coaches selected University of Denver as the favorite to win the regular-season and the MacNaughton Cup. The Pioneers garnered seven of 12 first-place votes and 115 points to edge University of North Dakota (110). UND finished second getting top billing from four coaches, while Colorado College (105), which was picked to finish third, picked up the final first-place vote.

University of Minnesota Duluth (75), reigning NCAA Champions, were slated fifth behind University of Nebraska Omaha (89). University of Minnesota (75), St. Cloud State University (61) and University of Wisconsin (54) were selected sixth, seventh and eighth, respectively.

Bemidji State University (30) was picked tenth behind University of Alaska-Anchorage (36), and ahead of Minnesota State University, Mankato (29) and Michigan Tech University (14).

Denver returns several key players such as Drew Shore (23-23=46), Jason Zucker (23-22=45), David Makowski (6-24=30) and Luke Salazar (17-11=28).

The Pioneers will have to go the first half of the season without starting goaltender Sam Brittain, who had knee surgery in June. Adam Murray is expected to cover for him.

The coaches have correctly predicted the champion in four of the last six years, including the last two.

In the same poll, WCHA coaches voted Colorado College forward Jaden Schwartz 2011-12 WCHA Preseason Player of the Year. Schwartz led the Tigers accumulating 47 points (17g 30a) in 30 games, despite missing six weeks with a broken ankle.

North Dakota forward Rocco Grimaldi was named preseason rookie of the year. Grimaldi led the U.S. Under-18 team in scoring last season and was selected by the Florida Panthers in the second round of the NHL Draft.

Bemidji State is coming off its inaugural season in the WCHA with an overall record of 15-18-5 and a 8-15-5 mark in league play. The team finished tenth in the WCHA standings and capped the season with a trip to the Red Baron WCHA Final Five in St. Paul, Minn. Bemidji State, the tournament’s No. 6 seed, opened the event with a win over the No. 3 seed and eventual national champion Minnesota Duluth, before bowing out to the second seed, Denver, in the semifinals.

The Beavers open their 56th season of hockey Oct. 2 when it hosts University of Regina in an exhibition game. The opening face off is set for 5:07 p.m.

41st annual Herald poll (first-place votes in parentheses)
1. Denver (7) 115
2. North Dakota (4) 110
3. Colorado College (1) 105
4. Nebraska-Omaha 89
5. Minnesota Duluth 75
6. Minnesota 74
7. St. Cloud State 61
8. Wisconsin 54
9. Alaska-Anchorage 36
10. Bemidji State 30
11. Minnesota State 29
12. Michigan Tech 14

Player of the year: Jaden Schwartz, F, CC (8 ), Justin Schultz, D, Wisc. (2), Terry Broadhurst, F, Omaha (1), Jack Connolly, F, UMD (1)

Rookie of the year: Rocco Grimaldi, F, UND (10), Joey LaLeggia, D, Denver (1), Jayson Megna, F, Omaha (1)

Courtesy: Brad Folkestad/Bemidji State Athletic Media Relations