The programs have had a year to get accustomed to the new-look Western Collegiate Hockey Association. As we head into year two, here’s how we think the teams will finish in the race for the MacNaughton Trophy.

The player statistics listed are for last season’s WCHA games only. Teams are listed in order of finish in the Bemidji Pioneer preseason media poll, and they include how we at UAHHockey.com voted. We’ll have a full UAH preview next week.

1. Minnesota State

Last season: 26-14-1 overall, 20-7-1 WCHA (2nd place). Won WCHA tournament championship. Lost to UMass-Lowell in the NCAA Northeast Regional semifinal.

Top returning players: Matt Leitner (Sr., F, 8-25-33, All-WCHA 1st team), Zach Palmquist (Sr., D, 3-16-19, All-WCHA 1st team), Jean-Paul Lafontaine (Sr., F, 16-16-32, All-WCHA 2nd team), Cole Huggins (So., G, 1.73, .927, All-WCHA 2nd team, WCHA goaltending champion).

Key losses: Zach Lehrke (F, 10-10-20, All-WCHA 3rd team), Johnny McInnis (F, 7-11-18, All-WCHA 3rd team).

Geof (1st): Not to be too reductionist here, but you win hockey games by scoring often and keeping the puck out of your net.  The Mavs have two of the best scoring forwards in the league in Leitner and Lafontaine — who just might net 20 PPG this season if the Mavs maintain their aggressive ways — some shut down defensemen who can also move the puck out cleanly, and both Huggins and Stephon Williams, who was fantastic as a freshman, in net.  Will they miss McInnis and Lehrke up front?  Sure!  But after a tough start to 2013-14, the Mavs caught up to Ferris State and nearly pulled away with both cups.  Anyone who says that Mankato is #2 is crazy.

Michael (1st): Minnesota State seems to be the most complete team in the league. I have three Mavericks on my preseason all-WCHA team, including the player of the year in Matt Leitner, and Cole Huggins was stellar in his freshman campaign. With the recruits coming in, they should contend for the MacNaughton for a while.

2. Ferris State: 

Last season: 29-11-3 overall, 20-6-2 WCHA (1st place). Lost to Minnesota State in the WCHA tournament championship game. Defeated Colgate in the NCAA Northeast Regional semfinal, lost to North Dakota in the final.

Top returning players: C.J. Motte (Sr., G, 2.29, .927, All-WCHA first team), Jason Binkley (Sr., D, 2-16-18, All-WCHA 3rd team), Kyle Schempp (So., F, 6-12-18, All-WCHA rookie team), Justin Buzzo (Sr., F, 6-11-17).

Key losses: Garrett Thompson (F, 11-7-18, All-WCHA second team), Scott Czarnowczan (D, 4-13-17, All-WCHA 2nd team), Cory Kane (F, 10-10-20)

Geof (2nd): IN MOTTE WE TRUST.  The Bulldogs were a balanced team last year, and while it hurts to lose a leader like Czarnowczan, the thing is that most leaders like him leave someone behind to carry the torch.  Bob Daniels is a fantastic coach, and his team will be ready to carry on.  Will they be as good as they were last season?  Probably not, and they did fade a bit as the season went on.  (Remember, there was a time that it looked like they wouldn’t lose a league game.)

Michael (2nd): Ferris State lost some talent, but they have so much to spare. And they have C.J. Motte. I can’t wait for their four games against Minnesota State in January.

3. Bowling Green

Last season: 18-15-6 overall, 13-11-4 (tied 3rd place). Lost to Minnesota State in the WCHA Tournament semifinals.

Top returning players: Dan DeSalvo (Sr., F, 5-15-20), Mark Cooper (Jr., F, 12-7-19), Ben Murphy (Jr., F, 8-5-13), Tommy Burke (Jr., G, 2.40, 9.12)

Key losses: Bryce Williamson (F, 5-11-16), Ralfs Freibergs (D, 3-14-17)

Geof (3rd): This might UAH-BSU pairing end up turning into a rivalry after all (especially if I keep getting into it with a certain writer from BG).  The Falcons don’t lose a ton and have some good talent coming in.  Add in Burke and they’re an easy pick to be a home playoff team.  I’m sure that Chris Bergeron would love a little more scoring, though.

Michael (4th): The Falcons return a solid core up front, so there isn’t any reason why they should not be hosting a first-round playoff series again.

4. Michigan Tech

Last season: 14-19-7 overall, 12-11-5 WCHA (5th place). Lost to Bowling Green 2 games to none in the WCHA Tournament first round.

Top returning players: Shane Hanna (So., D, 4-18-22, All-WCHA rookie team), Blake Pietila (Sr., F, 7-14-21), Tanner Kero (Sr., F, 13-7-20), Alex Petan (Jr., F, 7-13-20)

Key losses: Pheonix Copley (Jr., G, 2.59, .900)

Geof (4th): I freely admit my affinity for Tech: one of my best friends is an alumnus, and Tech is probably closest to UAH in terms of school profile.  MTU definitely showed their support for Mel Pearson by giving him a big contract extension, and even by losing assistant Damon Whitten to become the new head coach at Lake State, they seem pretty settled.  Losing Copley hurts, but Jamie Phillips was solid as a freshman and could bounce back — and there’s another Kero (Devin) in town to compete for time in net.  I think that the bunching that’s endemic to the WCHA will start with the Huskies, but they’re the best of that lot.

Michael (6th): I’m probably not giving the Huskies enough credit with my vote, or maybe I’m giving the departed goaltender Pheonix Copley too much. Considering how bunched the middle of the league was last season, it won’t take much to go either way. Tech has enough firepower to prove me very wrong.

5. Alaska

Last season: 18-15-4 overall, 14-12-2 WCHA (tied 3rd place). Lost to Alaska-Anchorage 2 games to 1 in the WCHA Tournament first round.

Top returning players: Colton Parayko (Jr., D, 4-14-18, All-WCHA 1st team), Tyler Morley (Jr., F, 15-14-29, All-WCHA 3rd team), Marcus Basara (So., 9-12-21), Sean Cahill (Sr., G, 2.28, .906)

Key losses: Cody Kunyk (F, 17-17-34, WCHA player of the year and scoring champion), Colton Beck (F, 11-19-30, All-WCHA 2nd team)

Geof (6th): Okay, so Parayko apparently grew to 6’6″ over the summer, a fact that has every WCHA forward wincing.  Morley was my third forward pick for the WCHA preseason team.  I like Cahill in net — college seniors with an established record sometimes really take off in their last season.  But losing Kunyk and Beck really hurts, and that’s a big hole to fill.  The Nanooks just have a tough, tough schedule: four each against Mankato, Ferris, and BG; a trip to UAH (which they didn’t take last season); and a trip to Western Michigan as their only NC road trip.

Michael (3rd): I have Alaska being 3rd again, even though the lost the player of the year Kunyk and Beck. I really like returning all-WCHA players Parayko and Morley, and Sean Cahill put up some good league numbers in his junior year. Add my pick for newcomer of the year in Peter Krieger and the Nanooks will be up there again.

6. Alaska-Anchorage

Last season: 18-16-4 overall, 12-12-4 WCHA (6th place). Lost to Ferris State in the WCHA Tournament semifinals.

Top returning players: Blake Tatchell (Jr., F, 4-17-21), Scott Allen (Sr., F, 14-11-25), Brett Cameron (Sr., F, 8-9-17)

Key losses: Matt Bailey (F, 12-15-27, All-WCHA 1st team), Jordan Kwas (F, 9-13-22), Rob Gunderson (G, 2.30, .910)

Geof (5th): Glory be, the Seawolves finished about .500 for the first time since the first year of the Bill Clinton Administration.  It’s just hard to see that momentum going with Bailey and Gunderson gone.

Michael (8th): I can’t help but think the losses of Matt Bailey and Rob Gunderson in particular will bring back the Seawolves a bit after their surprise run last season.

7. Northern Michigan

Last season: 15-21-2 overall, 13-14-1 WCHA (7th place). Lost to Minnesota State in the WCHA Tournament first round.

Top returning players: Mathias Dahlstrom (So., G, 2.34, .917), Reed Seckel (Sr., F, 9-11-20), Mitch Jones (Sr., D, 2-11-13), Dominik Shinne (So., F, 6-7-13)

Key losses: Stephan Vigier (F, 8-12-20)

Geof (7th): The Wildcats won nine non-UAH league games in 13-14: v. Tech, @ Alaska, @ Bemidji twice (LOL), v. Alaska, @ Anchorage, v. Mankato, v. Lake, and v. BG.  Lesson: they do okay in the Berry and not as well elsewhere.  Losing Vigier means that they’re really just treading water, and I don’t see where they’re magically going to jump higher given the pack that they’re in.  If they do jump up, it’s because they don’t travel to either Ferris or Mankato.

Michael (7th): Dahlstrom will keep the Wildcats in some games, but I’m not sure they’ll have enough to get out of 7th again.

8. Bemidji State

Last season: 10-21-7 overall, 10-14-4 WCHA (tied 8th place). Lost to Ferris State 2 games to 0 in the WCHA Tournament first round.

Top returning players: Matt Prapavessis (Sr., D, 5-12-17, All-WCHA 3rd team), Cory Ward (Jr., F, 13-9-22), Markus Gerbrandt (Jr., F, 13-7-20), Andrew Walsh (Sr., G, 2.55, .916)

Key losses: Radoslav Illo (F, 3-6-9)

Geof (8th): I hate Bemidji State.  I hate that everyone is going to talk about their stupid triplets all season.  If they really were baby geniuses, they’d be at UAH, the school for brainy kids in the WCHA.  The Beavs don’t lose a lot from last season, but the simple fact is that there are way too many teams for the Green to hurdle.  (But I love Tom Serratore.  I just need to get that out there.)

Michael (5th): Geof might consider taking my web site privileges with this pick. I think Walsh will have a good senior season, and maybe I’m influenced by the arrival of the Fitzgerald triplets. I really don’t know any more.

9. Lake Superior State

Last season: 16-19-1 overall, 12-16-0 WCHA (tied 8th place). Missed WCHA playoffs.

Top returning players: Alex Globke (So., F, 9-12-21, All-WCHA rookie of the year), Stephen Perfetto (So., F, 6-6-12)

Key losses: Kevin Kapalka (G, 2.62, .924, All-WCHA 3rd team), Kevin Czuczman (Jr., D, 6-8-14, All-WCHA 2nd team), Colin Campbell (Sr., F, 11-12-23), Dan Radke (Sr., F, 5-14-19)

Geof (9th): Okay, so when you 1) change coaches, 2) have all-new goaltending, 3) lose your best player a year early, and 4) come off of a season where you lost 60% of your league games, you’re going to be hurting.  Damon Whitten has a lot to do in the Soo.

Michael (9th): Lake State is in rebuild mode right now. Not UAH-level rebuild mode, but this was a ninth-place team that lost a lot, including their head coach. It shall be interesting to see what Alex Globke does after his rookie of the year campaign.

We’re coming up to two weeks remaining until the Chargers’ 2014-15 season home opening series with Bowling Green.

UAH announced the promotional schedule for the season on Wednesday. Here are the highlights. All games start at 7 p.m. unless otherwise noted.

Oct. 17 vs. Bowling Green – Alumni Night: Homecoming returns to hockey! Friday night is Alumni Night, as all alumni and their families will receive free admission to the game by presenting your Alumni Association card at the ticket booth. (Don’t have a card? Call 256-824-6549 or email alumni@uah.edu to get one.) A tailgate party begins at 5:30 p.m. at the corner of Church Street and the VBC. Former Charger hockey players will be recognized during the game.

Oct. 18 vs. Bowling Green – Posters & Magnets: The first 500 fans in attendance for Saturday’s game will receive official Charger hockey schedule posters and magnets.

Nov. 14-15 vs. Lake Superior State – Military Appreciation Weekend:  Veterans and active miliatry personnel will receive free admission. At Saturday’s game, the first 500 fans will get free camo rally towels.

Nov. 28 vs. Michigan Tech – Hockey Sticks: The first 1,000 fans receive a UAH mini hockey stick.

Jan. 3 vs. Alaska-Anchorage – T-Shirts: The first 500 fans receive a free UAH hockey T-shirt.

Jan. 17 vs. Northern Michigan – Pucks: The first 1,000 fans get a free puck with the official UAH Chargers logo.

Jan. 25 vs. USA Under-18 (2 p.m.) – Team Photos: The first 1,000 fans get a free Chargers team photo, and a player autograph session will follow the game.

Feb. 21 vs. Ferris State – Thunder Sticks: The first 500 fans receive UAH thunder stick noisemakers.

Feb. 28 vs. Alaska – Mini Space Shuttles: Welcome home UAH alum Lance West, an assistant coach for the Nanooks. The first 500 fans receive a free mini space shuttle, courtesy of the U.S. Space & Rocket Center.

At all home games, UAH Charger player trading cards will be given away.

For season and group tickets, visit the UAH Athletic Office or call 256-UAH-PUCK. Get more information on our ticket page.

WCHA TV returns: The Western Collegiate Hockey Association on Tuesday announced this season’s online video package, WCHA TV, for the 2014-15 season.

With WCHA TV, fans can watch all conference games from all schools, including non-conference games at WCHA member rinks. Feeds are available in high definition on PCs, tablets, and mobile phones for both iOS and Android platforms.

Available plans include the full-season pass ($160), monthly pass ($50), day pass ($12 regular season, $15 playoffs), and tournament pass ($60).

Visit WCHA.TV for more information.

It’s not a surprise, considering last season. Coming off a two-win campaign, UAH was picked by the WCHA media and coaches to finish in last place again this season.

For us, it doesn’t really matter. To paraphrase Mystery Science Theater 3000, “It’s just a poll. We should really just relax.” Right now our focus is building the program and getting better, and hopefully surprising some folks along the way.

Meanwhile, Minnesota State is the odds-on favorite to take the MacNaughton Trophy as the regular season champions. Last year’s winner, Ferris State, is second in both polls, and it should be another interesting race between these budding rivals. Michigan Tech and Bowling Green are expected to follow close behind.

Here’s the full release by the WCHA. Geof and I voted in the media poll, and we will provide our rationale in our WCHA preview coming later this week. The regular season starts for three teams this Saturday, with Michigan Tech visiting Lake Superior State to kick off conference play and Ferris State hosting Michigan.

2014-15 Mankato Free Press WCHA Men’s Hockey Preseason Coaches’ Poll:

1. Minnesota State (9 1st place votes), 81 points
2. Ferris State (1), 67
3. Michigan Tech, 64
4. Bowling Green, 57
5. Alaska, 44
6. Northern Michigan, 40
7. Alaska Anchorage, 38
8. Bemidji State, 33
9. Lake Superior State, 17
10. Alabama Huntsville, 9

Preseason WCHA Player of the Year: C.J. Motte, Sr., G, Ferris State

Preseason WCHA Rookie of the Year: C.J. Franklin, F, Minnesota State and Brad McClure, F, Minnesota State (4 votes each)

Preseason All-WCHA Team:
Forwards: Tyler Morley, Jr., Alaska; Jean-Paul LaFontaine, Sr., Minnesota State; Matt Leitner, Sr., Minnesota State
Defensemen: Colton Parayko, Jr., Alaska; Zach Palmquist, Sr., Minnesota State
Goaltender: C.J. Motte, Sr., Ferris State

2014-15 Bemidji Pioneer WCHA Men’s Hockey Preseason Media Poll:

1. Minnesota State (23 1st place votes), 256 points
2. Ferris State (4), 226
3. Bowling Green, 180
4. Michigan Tech, 178
5. Alaska, 163
6. Alaska Anchorage, 128
7. Northern Michigan, 112
8. Bemidji State, 101
9. Lake Superior State, 60
10. Alabama Huntsville, 26

Preseason WCHA Player of the Year: Matt Leitner, Sr., F, Minnesota State

Preseason WCHA Rookie of the Year: Mark Friedman, D, Bowling Green

Preseason All-WCHA Team:
Forwards: Tyler Morley, Jr., Alaska; Jean-Paul LaFontaine, Sr., Minnesota State; Matt Leitner, Sr., Minnesota State
Defensemen: Colton Parayko, Jr., Alaska; Shane Hanna, So., Michigan Tech
Goaltender: C.J. Motte, Sr., Ferris State

UAH’s Max McHugh received a vote for Preseason WCHA Rookie of the Year, and Joseph Kestner got a vote for the Preseason All-WCHA Team.

And now, our occasional reminder about 2014-15 season tickets and the Blue Line Club. UAH Director of Athletics Dr. E.J. Brophy sent out this email to Charger fans last week, and I think it sums it up nicely:

Dear Charger Fan,

As our UAH Hockey team enters year two in the prestigious Western Collegiate Hockey Association, we hope you will strongly consider purchasing season tickets for the upcoming campaign.  Your support is vital to our program.  Click here for your season ticket/Blue Line Club brochure.

As a season ticket holder, your attendance and monetary commitment tremendously assists the program as we strive to climb the ladder of the WCHA.

As a member of the Blue Line Club, your monetary contributions go directly toward enhancing the collegiate athletic experiences of UAH Hockey student-athletes.  Your gift makes a big difference in the collegiate careers of these young people, and helps insure steady growth within the UAH Hockey program.  Season tickets are also included with your membership in the Blue Line Club.

We invite you to purchase your season tickets today or join the Blue Line Club at the level that is right for you. We need you now more than ever, as we continue this new era of UAH Hockey.

GO CHARGERS!

Sincerely,

E. J. Brophy, Ph.D.
Director of Athletics
The University of Alabama in Huntsville

We’ve said it before and we’ll say it again:  Even if you can’t donate the minimum to enjoy the perks of the Blue Line Club, the program will gladly accept any amount of contribution. If you can’t get full season tickets, get those FlexTix packages and cheer your Chargers whenever you can. Every little bit helps as we strive to build a championship contender in the Hockey Capital of the South.

The home opening series is against Bowling Green on Friday and Saturday, Oct. 17-18, which also happens to be homecoming! Individual game ticket and promotion information will be available in the coming weeks. Follow @weloveuahhockey and @uahhockey on Twitter, and like UAH Hockey on Facebook to keep up to date.

Thanks, and go Chargers!

Summer news and notes as we are fewer than 60 days from the start of the 2014-15 season. Season tickets are on sale now!

Craig Bushey played for the Chargers from 2001-05.

The Point Mallard Ducks’ first ever home game will feature former Charger teammates behind the benches.

Karlis Zirnis, who was an assistant coach on the Latvian team at this year’s Olympic Games in Sochi, Russia, was named the head coach of the Nashville Jr. Predators on August 5. The Predators will face the Ducks at the Point Mallard Ice Complex on September 27.

Zirnis had 119 points for UAH from 1999-2003, 14th most in school history and 2nd in UAH’s modern Division I era. His 46 goals is third in UAH’s modern Division I era, and his 73 assists is second.

The Point Mallard Ducks, Alabama’s first Junior ‘A’ team going into its inaugural NA3HL season, will be led by Craig Bushey, who was hired in May. The Ducks were formally introduced to the city of Decatur with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on August 8.

Bushey, who played for the Chargers from 2001-05, is 17th on UAH’s all-time scoring list (and 3rd in the modern Division I era) with 112 points. He was fifth in the D-I era with 46 goals and third with 67 assists.

Seabass down under: Former Charger Sebastian Geoffrion played for the United States team that headed down to Australia for a five-game exhibition series against a team representing Canada. The International Ice Hockey Australia event, which had sellout crowds in Perth, Brisbane, Sydney, and Melbourne, benefitted the Stop Concussions Foundation.

Penalty Box Radio caught up with Geoffrion to talk about his experience in Australia, where the U.S. team defeated Canada in three of the five games to claim the Douglas Webber Cup. The Brentwood, Tennessee, native spent most of the 2013-14 season with the Arizona Sun Dogs of the CHL.

NCAA rule changes: Last month, the NCAA Playing Rules Oversight Panel approved new rule changes for the 2014-15 season. The rule changes include:

• Video replay can be used to determine if a goal was scored before a penalty occurred. Replay can be used to review a goal if it appears offsides or a too many men on the ice penalty should have been called (and the puck doesn’t leave the offensive zone). Replay can now be used from all video sources (not just the TV/Internet broadcast).
• Major penalty for intereference (to assist officials in penalizing for blindside hits or other significant contact not to the head or neck.
• For faceoffs, playing the puck with the hand now results in a minor penalty. End zone faceoffs now require the defending team to put their stick down first instead of the attacking team. The visiting team will continue to put their stick down first in neutral zone faceoffs. Faceoffs will now stay in the offensive zone if the attacking team attempts to score and the puck goes out of play.

Charger Blue does the Ice Bucket Challenge: Unfazed.