3rd Annual WCHA Blogger & Website Preseason Poll

The ballots have been returned and tallied for the 3rd Annual WCHA Blogger & Website Preseason Poll. We had 18 participants this year, with representation from eight of the conference's twelve schools. Of note, not all participants cast votes for every category, which will be noted below. Also, there were two ties in the All-Conference Team voting. Ben Hanowski and Danny Kristo tied at forward with eight votes each, while Nick Jensen and Nate Schmidt tied at defense with 7 votes each. Thanks to all who participated, and here are the results:

	Team (1st Place Votes)	Points
1.	Minnesota (15)	199
2.	North Dakota (2)	187
3.	Denver (1)	162
4.	Wisconsin	142
5.	Minnesota-Duluth	126
6.	St. Cloud State	119
7.	Nebraska-Omaha	97
8.	Colorado College	94.5
9.	Michigan Tech	78.5
10.	Minnesota State-Mankato	58
11.	Bemidji State	44
12.	Alaska-Anchorage	19

All-Conference Team (17 Voters)

F -	Nick Bjugstad, Minnesota
F -	Mark Zengerle, Wisconsin
F -	Ben Hanowski, St. Cloud State
F -	Danny Kristo, North Dakota
D -	Joey LaLeggia, Denver
D -	Nick Jensen, St. Cloud State
D -	Nate Schmidt, Minnesota
G -	Sam Brittain, Denver

Player of the Year (17 Voters)
Nick Bjugstad, Minnesota (9)

Others receiving multiple votes:
Mark Zengerle, Wisconsin (4)
Erik Haula, Minnesota (2)

Rookie of the Year (17 Voters)
Rocco Grimaldi, North Dakota (6)

Others receiving multiple votes:
Nic Kerdiles, Wisconsin (4)
Andy Welinski, Minnesota-Duluth (2)
Austin Farley, Minnesota-Duluth (2)

Defenseman of the Year (17 Voters)
Joey LaLeggia, Denver (9)

Others receiving multiple votes:
Nick Jensen, St. Cloud State (3)
Nate Schmidt, Minnesota (2)

Breakout Player of the Year (17 Voters)
Caleb Herbert, Minnesota-Duluth (2)
Andrej Sustr, Nebraska-Omaha (2)

13 others received a single vote.

Again, a big thank you to everyone who took part:
Timothy Boger, Kelly Green & White (North Dakota)
Jeremy Larson, Husky Hockey Time (St. Cloud State)
Nathan Wells/@gopherstate, SB Nation MN/College Hockey News/SBNation (Minnesota/WCHA)
Tim Braun, Tech Hockey Guide (Michigan Tech)
Andrew Craig, College Hockey High Horse (Minnesota-Duluth)
Matt Christians/@Bulldog_Country, Bulldog Country (Minnesota-Duluth)
South Tex Gopher, Gopher Puck Live (Minnesota)
Steve Fetch/@fetch9, The Checking Line
Zack Friedli, Hockey State of Mind/College Hockey News (Minnesota-Duluth)
Eric Burton (Goon), Goon's World/The Hockey Writers Combine (North Dakota)
GopherGuy33, Gopher Puck Live (Minnesota)
Andy Johnson, Bucky's 5th Quarter (Wisconsin)
Jeff Baker/@UNOMavMania, Mav Mania (Nebraska-Omaha)
Joe Paisley, Paisley Hockey (Colorado College)
gmf1a, CC Tiger Hockey Forum (Colorado College)
Donn Schuschke (Sioux 7), Goon's World (North Dakota)
Matthew Semisch, USCHO
Chad, A Tradition of Excellence (North Dakota)