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DULUTH — NCHC associate commissioner Michael Weisman, who is in charge of the league’s communications, sends out ballots every August to a select number of media members, asking us to pick a preseason All-NCHC team and to predict where the league’s now nine members will finish.
In the NCHC, only the media fills out ballots, because as Scott Sandelin once told us at a media day in St. Paul — after questioning our picks that year — he and the rest of the coaches want nothing to do with trying to rank the league in the preseason.
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It’s an impossible task. There is so much you can’t predict in late August or early September. It’s tough to know whether newcomers will live up to their potential. You know injuries will occur, but never to who and when.
When filling out my ballot, I always try to look at who a team is counting on in goal, but even that can be tricky if the goaltender stepping in has limited NCAA experience.
Here is the ballot I submitted prior to the season, and with conference play beginning this week in the NCHC, and my redo after a month of nonconference games.
1. Denver
2. North Dakota
3. Western Michigan
4. Colorado College
5. Minnesota Duluth
6. St. Cloud State
7. Omaha
8. Arizona State
9. Miami
1. Denver: I feel very good about the Pioneers (8-0) — who still have another week before starting NCHC play — winning the NCHC. They lead the country in 5.1 goals per game scored and are one of the top defensive teams allowing only 1.4 goals per game.
2. Colorado College: The Tigers are rolling at 6-0 to start the year, and I’m already regretting having them fourth. Goaltender Kaidan Mbereko is allowing just 1.33 goals against with a .940 save percentage.
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3. Western Michigan: There’s not a lot to go on yet for the Broncos, who have only played four games. Yes, WMU is 3-1, but those three wins are over former CCHA rivals Ferris State and Bowling Green, with a loss at Boston College. What has me feeling good still about Western is their goaltending. Freshman Hampton Slukynsky and senior Cameron Rowe have combined for a .926 save percentage and 2.0 GAA.
4. North Dakota: I’m not sure what to make of the Fighting Hawks and their inconsistent start, splitting with Minnesota State and Boston University before getting swept at Cornell. One night they get shut out by the Mavericks. The next night they put up seven on BU. Fifth-year senior goaltender T.J. Semotiphelter — a transfer from Arizona State whose college career began at Northeastern — is off to a rocky start after giving up three goals on four shots in 12:32 last Friday at Cornell.
5. St. Cloud State: The Huskies were rolling until they welcomed No. 2-ranked Boston College, starting the season 6-1. The Eagles swept both games last week in St. Cloud. Sophomore goaltender Isak Posch has been solid stepping into the No. 1 role, backstopping a stingy defensive team thus far that’s allowing just two goals per game.
6. Minnesota Duluth: The injury to Max Plante has made it tough for me to grade the Bulldogs, as I believe he’s such a big part of the offense. Of course, UMD is averaging three goals per game, still, without him. It’s their defensive play that has struggled, allowing an NCHC-worst 3.43 goals per game this season. And goaltender Adam Gajan has not been the issue.
7. Arizona State: The Sun Devils had a rough start after blowing out Air Force 8-1 in their season opener, going 0-4-1 over their next five. ASU scored a sweep at Northern Michigan in its last series before its first-ever NCHC series at Colorado College.
8. Omaha: Overtime wins in Las Vegas over UMass and Minnesota in the Ice Breaker Tournament had me thinking I overlooked the Mavericks. Then they got swept by Augustana and Minnesota State. The Mavs are averaging just 1.50 goals per game, having been shutout twice already.
9. Miami: There are signs of progress at Miami under first-year head coach Anthony Noreen, but you also sense the RedHawks have a way to go with just three wins playing the 52nd-toughest schedule so far in college hockey.
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Let’s take a look at how Matt’s preseason All-NCHC team is doing:
Noah Laba, F, Colorado College: Laba missed the Tigers’ series at Alaska Anchorage, but returned last weekend against Air Force. He has a goal and five assists in four games.
Jack Devine, F, Denver: Devine was a league-best 15 assists through eight games, plus a goal. Of course, the Pioneer I left off, Carter King, leads the NCHC with seven goals.
Dominic James, F, Minnesota Duluth: UMD’s captain is tied for second in the NCHC in goals with six through seven games.
Zeev Buium, D, Denver: The Minnesota Wild first-round pick in 2024 is still looking for his first goal of the season, but he’s got 10 assists.
Jake Livanavage, D, North Dakota: He’s got 11 blocked shots in seven games, but just a goal and two assists. And he’s minus-3.
Kaidan Mbereko, G, Colorado College: The NCHC’s leader in GAA (1.33) and save percentage (.940).
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