From todays Wisconsin State Journal:
 
WCHA preseason poll [Grand Forks (ND) Herald]
 
    School                    Points
1. Minnesota (5)                108
2. Wisconsin (4)                104
3. Minnesota-Duluth              80
4. Colorado College              68
5. Northern Michigan             46
6. North Dakota                  39
7. Michigan Tech                 32
8. Denver                        29
9. St. Cloud State                9
 
First place votes in parentheses.  Points determined on a 14-12-10-8-6-4-2 basis
 
By a very narrow margin, coaches in the WCHA have picked Minnesota to win its
2nd consecutive McNaughton Cup in 1992-93.
According to an annual poll conducted by the Grand Forks (ND) Herald, the
Gophers received 106 points and five first-place votes in the race for the
regular season title.  The University of Wisconsin received 104 points and four
first-place votes.
In 21 previuos polls, the coaches have correctly chosen the winner only six
times, but that did not prevent Minnesota Coach Doug Woog from chiding his
counterparts.  "It's a joke," he said of the process.  "How can they not take
Wisconsin?"
The role of favorite is not one the Gophers have played well in recent years.
They won regular-season titles in 1988, '89 and '92, but in each case failed to
win the subsequent league playoff.
By the same token, Wisconsin (1990) and Northern Michigan (1991) not only won
both the regular season and playoff crowns, they went on to claim the National
Collegiate Athletic Association titles.
Despite having a reputation as one of the finest programs in the country,
Minnesota has not won an NCAA title since 1979 or a WCHA playoff championship
since 1981.
A preseason poll in the Sporting News ranked Minnesota third and Wisconsin 12th.
In addition to predicting the order of finish - coaches were not allowed to vote
for their own team - the poll asked to forecastthe league's most valuable
player and rookie of the year.
In the MVP race, North Dakota center Greg Johnson received 4 1/2 votes,
Minnesota-Dululth center Derek Plante 3 1/2 votes and Minnesota foreward Craig
Johnson one vote.
As for top newcomer, Wisconsin goaltender Jim Carey received 3 1/2 votes,
Colorado College foreward Colin Schmidt, Wisconsin defenseman Ulvis Katlaps and
Denver center Maurice Hall one each, and North Dakota defenseman Nick Naumenko
one-half vote.  Two coaches declined to vote for rookie of the year.
Wisconsin opens the regular season Oct. 23 against St. Cloud State at the Dane
County Coliseum.
 
End of quoted material.
 
I was somewhat surprised to see ST. Cloud so low in the point totals.  I don't
expect them to contend for the title, but nine points?
I was pleased to see Colorado College ranked as high as they are.  They are a
good team with a good coach and should not be taken lightly this year.  Another
reason is that CC ahs less students than my high school (Anoka Sr. High, MN).
It should be a great year for the Badgers.  The only question mark is in goal.
The fight for number one goalie seems to be between Senior Jon Michelissi (sp?)
and freshman Jim Carey.  The senior did a great job last year while Derksen was
out with an injury, but Carey should give him some pretty good competition for
the starting job.  Rumor has it that coach Sauer will be rotating starts between
these two during the first two home series.  After that, who knows?
It would be nice to have someone from St. Cloud on the list.  So if you're at
SCSU and you are reading this, think about posting some info on the Huskies.
 
Have an ice day,
 
Rob Holmes
 
Drop the puck!