College Hockey:
WCHA coaches’ poll has Minnesota at top of the rankings

USCHO Staff Report • Oct. 4, 2012

Minnesota and North Dakota each won WCHA hardware last season, but according to the Grand Forks Herald‘s WCHA coaches’ poll, Minnesota is a near-unanimous choice to repeat.

Minnesota received 11 first-place votes with North Dakota garnering the other.

School (First-place votes)	Total points
1. Minnesota (11)	121
2. North Dakota (1)	110
3. Denver	91
4. St. Cloud State	90
5. Wisconsin	70
6. Minnesota-Duluth	69
7. Colorado College	56
8. (tie) Nebraska-Omaha	51
8. (tie) Michigan Tech	51
10. Minnesota State	37
11. Bemidji State	31
12. Alaska-Anchorage	15

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DrunkAndShoelessInNoDak
It’s official. Even though this is the final year of the current configuration of the WCHA, Alaska-Anchorage still blows.
- B.D.
  explain
- http://twitter.com/pucknut9 Kegs
  They always have. Won’t miss playing there big slow lumbering clutch and grab style of hockey.
“Like-Minded” Left-Over
The North Dakota players are partying with the captains as everyone is passing out. The ice is melting in UAA. But the NCHC is still a shame for college hockey. Some teams are going to regret moving on to the NCHC. It is a shame a that the CCHA will be folding. Why do a few people who think they are going to make a few bucks let both the WCHA and CCHA go into this direction. Will the smaller budget schools be able to support the Alaska schools and the addition of Alabama? With the ice leaking under the floor in Alaska I would be concerned with the future of hockey in the North? Are they able to build a new rink? Can they afford to play the empty pocket teams on a regular basis? Is the wrting on the wall as both Alaska teams face each other in the playoffs in the nWCHA? Some might believe that by joining the NCHC is the answer but I believe it will snowball as fledging teams will be hoping to survive as they have small budgets, no tv contracts, no marque championship game and teams located in REMOTE places with a lot of miles to get there with bad wheather to top it off. Yes there is many uncertainities for the nWCHA and NCHC. I am skepticial with the future shape after we say goodbye to the present WCHA and CCHA.
- lakes19
  So in other words, your still upset and mad because your small school wasn’t invited to the NCHC or Big Ten conference, and you need those bigger and better programs to support your’s?
  Money talks in College athletics today. It’s a fact so get use to it. I’m sorry you depend on higher revenue and bigger market Universities to help support your team.
- scpa0305
  Do you even know what you are talking about? You’re grammer is downright terrible and it is extremely hard to follow you’re rambling thoughts. Are you saying shame on the NCHC teams for leaving the poor and out small schools? Honestly, you had to be drunk while writing that garbage.
  - L”Like-Minded” Left-Over”"
    I actually was drinking in Grand Forks at the Captains party. We were celebrating leaving the WCHA.
    The only shame is teams like UND, CC, Denver, and UMD werent commited to the WCHA. Like teams in Hockey East who bolted their membership to 12. And the WCHA would have been 10 minus Minnesota and Wisconsin.
scpa0305
I like UND #1 and Wisonsin #2 for some reason. We all know what happens when MN is ranked high to start the season. They do better coming from no where.
- Mike
  This year’s MN team is a much more known entity. If they are an improved team from last year, look out!
deucetard
HE preseason coaches picks are WAY better than the WCHA ones. Oh wait, its not April yet? never mind. I’ll save it until then.
Mike
Gophs.

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