Bowling Green State University Athletics
Hockey Picked Fourth In WCHA Coaches Poll
September 25, 2013 | Ice Hockey
Ryan Carpenter was selected to the Preseason All-WCHA team, while Defenseman Mike Sullivan and Ralfs Freibergs each received votes in the poll.
WCHA Release
BOWLING GREEN, Ohio – In less than two weeks, the Bowling Green State University men's ice hockey team will begin a new journey in the Western Collegiate Hockey Association in the upcoming 2013-14 season. The 62-year historic WCHA has a revamped conference that features 10 schools, and the Falcons have been picked to finish fourth, according the Mankato Free Press WCHA Men's Head Coaches Preseason Poll.
Head coaches from each school based their votes in a prediction order of finish based on a 9-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1 scale; coaches could not vote for their own teams. The WCHA Head Coaches Preseason Poll listed BGSU fourth overall behind Minnesota State (9), Ferris State, and Michigan Tech (1) among the entire field of teams.
Minnesota State has been tabbed as the overwhelming favorite in the conference, harvesting nine of the 10 first-place votes in the poll, including 81 total points. The Mavericks are coming off one of their best seasons in recent history, reaching the NCAA Tournament.
Ferris State follows Minnesota State, finishing second with 65 total points. The Bulldogs edged Michigan Tech (64) by one point, who received the other first-place vote from the coaches.
Bowling Green (58) placed fourth, followed by Alaska (54), Northern Michigan (40), Bemidji State (35), Lake Superior State (25), Alaska Anchorage (18) and Alabama-Huntsville (10).
Matt Leitner of Minnesota State received the Preseason Player of the Year with five votes. Junior Ryan Carpenter of Bowling Green received one vote in the poll, behind Leitner and Alex Petan (2) of Michigan Tech
Carpenter, who was a second-team All-CCHA selection last year, will join forwards Leitner and Petan on the Preseason All-WCHA team. Defensemen Zach Palmquist of Minnesota State and Jason Binkley of Ferris State was selected, while Mavericks goaltender Stephon Williams will complete the selected players.
The Falcons also received recognition for two of their defensemen. Junior Mike Sullivan and sophomore Ralfs Freibergs both received votes for the Preseason All-WCHA team. Sullivan was one of only six Falcons to play in all 41 games during the 2012-13 campaign. Sullivan ranked fourth on the team with 15 assists, ranking second most among defenseman. Sullivan also ranked second among defenseman with a career-best 16 points. Meanwhile, Freibergs, who is from Riga, Latvia, played in eight games for Bowling Green. Freibergs scored one goal and added six assists for seven total points in his short time on the ice in 2012-13.
This year's slate of home games will feature two exhibition games and 17 regular season games in 2013-14. Bowling Green will host conference opponents in the BGSU Ice Arena that include Alaska Anchorage, Minnesota State, Alabama Huntsville, Alaska Fairbanks, Lake Superior State, Michigan Tech and Bemidji State
Single game tickets are now on sale. Tickets can be purchased in person at the BGSU Ticket Office (Monday through Friday 8:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m.) or by calling 877-BGSU TICKET.
2013-14 Mankato Free Press WCHA Men's Hockey Preseason Coaches Poll
Predicted order of finish (first-place votes in parenthesis). Based on a 9-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1 scale; coaches could not vote for their own teams
Rank Team First Place Votes Points
1 Minnesota State 9 81
2 Ferris State – 65
3 Michigan Tech 1 64
4 Bowling Green – 58
5 Alaska – 54
6 Northern Michigan – 40
7 Bemidji State – 35
8 Lake Superior State – 25
9 Alaska Anchorage – 18
10 Alabama Huntsville – 10
Preseason WCHA Player of the Year
Matt Leitner, Jr., F, Minnesota State (5 votes); Alex Petan, So., F, Michigan Tech (2); Ryan Carpenter, Jr., F, Bowling Green (1); Cody Kunyk, Sr., F, Alaska (1); Blake Tatchell, So., F, Alaska Anchorage (1).
Preseason WCHA Rookie of the Year
Zach Stepan, F, Minnesota State (8); Brent Baltus, F, Michigan Tech (1); Shane Sooth, F, Northern Michigan (1).
Preseason All-WCHA Team
Forwards: Matt Leitner, Jr., Minnesota State; Ryan Carpenter, Jr., Bowling Green; Alex Petan, So., Michigan Tech. Defensemen: Zach Palmquist, Jr., Minnesota State; Jason Binkley, Jr., Ferris State. Goaltender: Stephon Williams, So., Minnesota State.
Others receiving votes: Forwards: Blake Tatchell, So., Alaska Anchorage; Matt Bailey, Sr., Alaska Anchorage; Cody Kunyk, Sr., Alaska; Garrett Thompson, Sr., Ferris State. Defensemen: Colton Parayko, So., Alaska; Matt Prapavessis, Jr., Bemidji State; Mike Sullivan, Jr., Bowling Green; Ralfs Freibergs, So., Bowling Green; Scott Czarnowczan, Sr., Ferris State; Kevin Czuczman, Jr., Lake Superior State; C.J. Ludwig, Sr., Northern Michigan. Goaltender: Kevin Kapalka, Sr., Lake Superior State.
The 2013-14 Mankato Free Press WCHA Men's Hockey Preseason Coaches Poll was conducted by Shane Frederick, staff writer, The Free Press Media (www.mankatofresspress.com; www.mankatofreepresshockey.blogspot.com; Twitter/puckato).
BG Hockey Press Conference vs Augustana 2.10
Tuesday, February 10
BG Hockey Postgame vs St. Thomas 2.7
Sunday, February 08
BG Hockey Postgame Interviews
Saturday, February 07
BG Hockey Press Conference vs St. Thomas 2.3
Tuesday, February 03