Defending MacNaughton Cup champion Minnesota earned 24 of 25 first-place votes in the annual 94X WCHA Preseason Media Poll released Wednesday.
North Dakota had the other first-place vote.
A panel of 25 WCHA media members voted on the predicted order of finish and on several individual honors.
| School (First-place votes) |
|---|
| 1. Minnesota (24) |
| 2. North Dakota (1) |
| 3. Denver |
| 4. Wisconsin |
| 5. Minnesota-Duluth |
| 6. St. Cloud State |
| 7. Colorado College |
| 8. Nebraska-Omaha |
| 9. Michigan Tech |
| 10. Minnesota State |
| 11. Bemidji State |
| 12. Alaska-Anchorage |
Minnesota junior forward Nick Bjugstad was named preseason player of the year and for the second straight year, North Dakota’s Rocco Grimaldi was tabbed preseason rookie of the year. Grimaldi took a medical redshirt after an injury-plagued 2011-12 season.
| Player | Position | School |
|---|---|---|
| Nick Bjugstad | F | Minnesota |
| Mark Zengerle | F | Wisconsin |
| Ben Hanowski | F | St. Cloud State |
| Joey LaLeggia | D | Denver |
| Nick Jensen | D | St. Cloud State |
| Sam Brittain | G | Denver |
| Josh Thorimbert | G | Colorado College |
