Click Here for Complete Coverage of CCHA Media Day 2005
FARMINGTON HILLS, Mich. - The University of Alaska Fairbanks hockey team has been ranked sixth in the Central Collegiate Hockey Association's annual preseason media poll and seventh in the coaches poll. In addition, sophomore goaltender
Wylie Rogers (Fairbanks, AK/Victoria BCHL) received 2005-06 CCHA Preseason All-Conference Team Honorable Mention.
The Nanooks compiled an overall record of 17-16-4 in the 2004-05 season and finished eighth in the CCHA standings with an 11-14-3 record. The team completed its first ever road sweep in the CCHA playoffs at Bowling Green and wins over Northern Michigan and Michigan State led to a third place finish in the CCHA Super Six Championships at Joe Louis Arena in Detroit.
Rogers entered last season as the backup goaltender. Following a shut out over Alaska Anchorage in his first start, Rogers was elevated to the starting job and was a major factor in the Nanooks' success. His play led to his place on the CCHA's All-Rookie Team and was named to the All-Tournament Team at the Super Six. In 31 games last season, Rogers compiled a 15-12-4 record with a 2.88 goals against average and a .906 save percentage.
Ohio State has earned first-place honors in both the media and coaches polls. The Buckeyes, finishing second last season in the standings and at the Super Six Championship, are the unanimous selection for first place in the coaches poll and received 45 first-place votes in the media poll.
Michigan ranked second in both polls, earning seven first-place votes from the media. Michigan State and Northern Michigan were the only other teams to garner first-place votes in the media poll.
The Buckeyes, looking to capture their first regular-season CCHA championship, are led by Preseason All-CCHA First Team selections senior goaltender David Caruso and senior forward Rod Pelley. The roster, which returns 21 players, also features sophomore forward Tom Fristche, who was selected to the CCHA All-Tournament and All-Rookie Teams in his first year, CCHA All-Conference Second Team defenseman senior Nate Guenin, and CCHA All-Tournament team selection junior defenseman Sean Collins.
Junior forward T.J. Hensick, the defending conference scoring champion, and CCHA All-Conference Second Team selection junior defenseman Matt Hunwick, leads Michigan, which looks to defend its regular-season and CCHA Tournament titles. In search of their 16th straight NCAA Tournament bid, the Wolverines will depend on a roster that features 11 freshmen, including defenseman Jack Johnson, who was selected third overall by the Carolina Hurricanes in this year's NHL Entry Draft.
With a lineup boasting 11 NHL draft picks, Northern Michigan, which returns last year's Best Defensive Defenseman award winner senior Nathan Oystrick, and returns the top eight scorers and seven defensemen from last season, sits in third place on both polls. Michigan State, led by junior goaltender Dominic Vicari is fourth, and Nebraska-Omaha earned fifth-place honors in both polls.
A total of 54 members of the media ranked the 12 CCHA teams in projected order of finish for the regular season. Points were awarded on a 12-11-10-9, etc., basis. League coaches ranked the CCHA teams, excluding their own school, in the order they predicted the regular season will end. Points in the coaches poll were tallied on a 11-10-9, etc., basis. CCHA coaches and the media agreed on eight of the 12 positions, with a different perspective on sixth, seventh, 10th, and 12th place positions.
Media Poll
1. Ohio State (45) 622
2. Michigan (7) 581
3. Northern Michigan (1) 494
4. Michigan State (1) 432
5. Nebraska-Omaha 380
6. Alaska Fairbanks 372
7. Miami 368
8. Bowling Green State 300
9. Notre Dame 196
10. Western Michigan 179
11. Lake Superior State 159
12. Ferris State 112
Coaches Poll
1. Ohio State (11) 121
2. Michigan (1) 108
3. Northern Michigan 96
4. Michigan State 93
5. Nebraska-Omaha 78
6. Miami 69
7. Alaska Fairbanks 65
8. Bowling Green State 50
9. Notre Dame 36
10. Ferris State 28
11. Lake Superior State 23
12. Western Michigan 22
Seven schools are represented on the second annual CCHA Preseason All-Conference Team that was announced today by the Central Collegiate Hockey Association in conjunction with the annual Media Day leading into the 2005-06 season.
Ohio State, led by 2005 CCHA All-Conference Second Team selection Rod Pelley, a senior forward, and senior goaltender Dave Caruso, had four of its players selected for the CCHA Preseason All-Conference Team, which was chosen in balloting among league coaches and select print and broadcast media. Pelley and Caruso were named to the Preseason First Team with teammates Tom Fritsche, a sophomore forward, and senior defenseman Nate Guenin, both honored on the Second Team.
Michigan junior foward T.J. Hensick, the conference's only First Team All-American honoree, was an unanimous selection at forward for the First Team, and was joined by Wolverine junior defenseman Matt Hunwick, who was selected to the Second Team. Nebraska-Omaha is represented by junior forward Scott Parse on the First Team, who received 27 first-place votes, and 2005 CCHA Rookie of the Year Bill Thomas, who earned Second Team Honors. Miami senior defenseman Andy Greene, the CCHA's Best Offensive Defenseman award winner, and Northern Michigan senior defenseman Nathan Oystrick, the reigning CCHA Defensive Defenseman award winner, round out the First Team selections.
Western Michigan senior forward Brent Walton, who was sixth in the nation in points-per-game scoring joins Fritsche and Thomas as a Second Team forward, and junior goaltender Dominic Vicari, who won 18 games for Michigan State, earned honors to backstop the Second Team.
Eight of the 12 players on the Preseason Team received All-Conference Team honors last season with Hensick, Parse, Oystrick and Greene keeping their spots on the First Team, Pelley going from the Second Team to the First Team, and Thomas, Guenin, and Walton retaining their Second Team honors.
Thirty-six ballots were cast in the selection of the Preseason Team. Voting was conducted among all 12 heads coaches, one print and one broadcast journalist from each of the 12 CCHA member markets along with another four media members representing national television, newspaper and web outlets.
2005-06 CCHA Preseason All-Conference Teams
PRESEASON FIRST TEAM
Position Name, Year, School First Totals
Forward T.J. Hensick, JR, Michigan 35 175
Forward Scott Parse, JR, Nebraska-Omaha 27 152
Forward Rod Pelley, SR, Ohio State 11 107
Defense Andy Greene, SR, Miami 32 171
Defense Nathan Oystrick, SR, Northern Michigan 22 135
Goaltender David Caruso, SR, Ohio State 24 146
PRESEASON SECOND TEAM
Position Name, Year, School First Totals
Forward Brent Walton, SR, Western Michigan 9 96
Forward Tom Fritsche, SO, Ohio State 9 89
Forward Bill Thomas, SO, Nebraska-Omaha 3 81
Defense Matt Hunwick, JR, Michigan 9 107
Defense Nate Guenin, SR, Ohio State, 10 103
Goaltender Dominic Vicari, JR, Michigan State 6 87
Vote Values: 1st place = 5, 2nd place = 3, 3rd place = 1
Honorable Mention (next six point totals, regardless of position with first-team votes in parentheses):
Sean Collins, JR, Ohio State, D, 52; Colton Fretter, SR, F, (4) 48;
Wylie Rogers, SO, Alaska Fairbanks, G, (3) 44; Jeff Jakaitis, JR, Lake Superior State, G, (3) 38; Darin Olver, JR, F, Northern Michigan, (1) 36; Matt Beaudoin, JR, Ohio State, F, (2) 35.
