BGSU FALCONS HOCKEY

BGSU picked 4th in WCHA media poll

9/24/2013

BOWLING GREEN — The Bowling Green State University hockey team was picked to finish fourth in its inaugural season in the Western Collegiate Hockey Association, according to a media poll released Tuesday.

The Falcons received 149 points from a panel of 25 media, five more than fifth-place Michigan Tech.

Also, junior forward Ryan Carpenter was one of six players voted to the WCHA’s pre-season all-league team by the media.

Minnesota State, the only WCHA member to play in last season’s NCAA tournament, was picked to win the league.

The Mavericks received 22 of 25 first-place votes and 244 points, with Ferris State second on the strength of two first-place votes for 218 points.

The rest of the poll had Alaska-Fairbanks third with 168 points, followed by BG, Michigan Tech, Northern Michigan (137 points), Lake Superior State (117), Bemidji State (108, one first-place vote), Alaska-Anchorage (54), and Alabama-Huntsville (36).

Joining Carpenter on the preseason All-WCHA team were forwards Matt Leitner of Minnesota State, the pre-season player of the year, and Alex Petan of Michigan Tech; defensemen Jason Binkley of Ferris State and Zach Palmquist of Minnesota State; and Minnesota State goalie Stephon Williams.

Forward Zach Stepan of Minnesota State was voted the WCHA’s preseason rookie of the year.

The WCHA will release a coaches poll today.