Mavericks Picked for Middle of Pack In Preseason P
Sep 30, 2009 | Hockey
CCHA Release
FARMINGTON HILLS, Mich. – The UNO hockey team has been picked to finish in the middle of the Central Collegiate Hockey Association standings in the league's annual preseason polls of its head coaches and news media. The Mavericks came in sixth in the coaches poll and seventh in the media poll.
UNO earned 63 points in the coaches poll, putting it just two points ahead of rivalry partner Alaska which came in at seven. In the media poll, the two schools swapped positions as the Mavericks came in seventh with 377 points, nine behind the sixth-place Nanooks.
For the first time in four years, the same team was chosen first in both polls. The University of Michigan received enough points to earn the top spot in voting by the CCHA's 12 head coaches and its 66 voting media members. In the coaches poll, the Wolverines received five first-place votes and 114 points total, just edging last year's regular season winner Notre Dame which finished with four first-place votes and 111 points overall.
In the media poll, Michigan received 24 first-place votes and 731 total points. Notre Dame was second with 20 first place votes and 712 points. In fact, the top five teams were the same in both polls. Miami came in third, Ohio State fourth and Northern Michigan fifth.
In the coaches poll, Ferris State finished in eighth place, Michigan State ninth, Lake Superior State 10th, Western Michigan 11th and Bowling Green 12th. In the media poll, Michigan State was eighth including earning one first place vote, Ferris State was ninth, Western Michigan 10th, Lake Superior 11th and Bowling Green 12th.
Last year, the Mavericks were 15-17-8 overall and 8-13-7-3 in the CCHA standings, good for eighth place. UNO got off to the best start in school history, beginning the season 12-4-3 before finishing the season 3-13-5.
The Mavericks return 19 letterwinners from last year's team including all eight defensemen. They lost just four players including three forwards and one goaltender.
UNO begins the 2009-2010 season on Monday, Oct. 5 when it hosts the University of Lethbridge in an exhibition game at Qwest Center Omaha. Face-off is 7:35 p.m.
