Wildcat hockey projected To Finish Fourth In League

BLOOMINGTON, Minn. (NMU/WBUP) — The Wildcat hockey program has been picked to finish fourth in the 2020-21 Western Collegiate Hockey Association Media Poll. With 68 points, the Northern Michigan University program sits behind only league foes Minnesota State (100 pts.), Bemidji State (89 pts.) and Bowling Green (76 pts.). Upper Peninsula rival, Michigan Tech rounds out the top-five picks with 67 points.

The Wildcats finished the 2019-20 campaign with an 18-16-4 record and finished third in the league at the end of the regular season.

Junior forward Griffin Loughran has been named to the Preseason Media All-WCHA Team, receiving all 10 possible votes. The league leading scorer in 2019-20, returns to the Wildcat lineup this season hoping to build on his sophomore success.

Including Loughran, the Wildcats return 10 forwards and five defensemen along with three goaltenders who saw action in the crease last season. They are joined by a strong freshman class and two additional transfers, eligible to play this coming year in forward David Keefer and goaltender Connor Ryckman.

The team returns 219 points from last season, including three of its top-four scorers in Loughran, Vincent de Mey and Joseph Nardi. NMU also holds a strong veteran core on the blue line, returning senior Ben Newhouse who led the league in blocked shots as well as sophomores Hank SorensenMichael Van UnenMason Palmer and Tanner Vescio.

The Wildcats open their season at home on Wednesday, November 25 against Lake Superior State University.

2020-21 WCHA Preseason Media Poll
Rank      Team (1st Place Votes)  Points

1.           Minnesota State (10)           100

2.           Bemidji State                          89

3.           Bowling Green                         76

4.           Northern Michigan                68

5.           Michigan Tech                        67

6.           Lake Superior State             44

7.           Alaska                                        40

8.           Ferris State                              33

9.           Alaska Anchorage                 21

10.           Alabama Huntsville               12

Predicted order of finish. Based on a 10-9-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1 scale.

 

WCHA Preseason Media Player of the Year (Votes)
Dryden McKay, Jr., G, Minnesota State (25)

Others Receiving Votes: Griffin Loughran, Jr., F, Northern Michigan (21); Owen Sillinger, Jr., F, Bemidji State (5); Zach Driscoll, Sr., G, Bemidji State (2); Brandon Kruse, Sr., F, Bowling Green (2); Nathan Smith, So., F, Minnesota State (2); Connor Ford, Sr., F, Bowling Green (1); Colin Swoyer, Jr., D, Michigan Tech (1).

Based on a 3-2-1 scale.

 

WCHA Preseason Media Rookie of the Year (Votes)
Carson Bantle, F, Michigan Tech (16)

Others Receiving Votes: Akito Hirose, D, Minnesota State (14); Tanner Edwards, F, Minnesota State (3); Connor Gregga, F, Minnesota State (3); Anton Malmstrom, D, Bowling Green (3); Lukas Sillinger, F, Bemidji State (3); Aaron Myers, F, Bemidj State (3); Ondrej Pavel, F, Minnesota State (3); Grant Johnson, F, Northern Michigan (3); Jed Pietila, D, Michigan Tech (2); Jake Livingstone, D, Minnesota State (2); Jett Jungels, F, Northern Michigan (2); Logan Stein, G, Ferris State  (1); Joshua Wildauer, F, Lake Superior State (1); Mack Byers, F, Northern Michigan (1).

Based on a 3-2-1 scale.

 

Preseason Media All-WCHA Team (Votes)
Forwards: Griffin Loughran, Jr. Northern Michigan (10); Connor Ford, Sr., Bowling Green (7); Owen Sillinger, Jr., Bemidji State (5).

Others Receiving Votes: Brandon Kruse, Sr., Bowling Green (3) Lucas Sowder, So., Minnesota State (2); Nathan Smith, So., Minnesota State (1); Jared Spooner, Sr., Minnesota State (1); Trenton Bliss, Jr., Michigan Tech (1).

Defensemen: Elias Rosén, So., Bemidji State (9); Jake Willets, So., Ferris State (6).

Others Receiving Votes: Chris Jandric, Jr., Alaska (2); Colin Swoyer, Jr., Michigan Tech (1); Tim Theochardis, Jr., Bowling Green (1); Jack McNeely, Sr., Minnesota State (1).

Goaltender: Dryden McKay, Jr., Minnesota State (10).

Others Receiving Votes: None

 

2020-21 WCHA Media Poll Voters
The voting board for the 2020-21 WCHA Media Poll consisted of one media representative from each Men’s League market.

Alabama Huntsville: Justin Bradford, Penalty Box Radio

Alaska Anchorage: Kurt Haider, Seawolf Radio

Alaska: Bruce Cech, Nanook Radio

Bemidji State: Austin Monteith, Bemidji Pioneer

Bowling Green: Nick Piotrowicz, Toledo Blade

Ferris State: John Raffel, Big Rapids Pioneer

Lake Superior State: Bill Crawford, LSSU Radio

Michigan Tech: Adam Niemi, Houghton Daily Mining Gazette

Minnesota State: Kevin Dudley, Mankato Free Press

Northern Michigan: Ryan Stieg, Marquette Mining Journal