Votes are being cast for pre-season rankings...3 weeks away from Penn St. vs. SLU marking the start of the season for the conference...and no conference thread?
For shame!
Will the conference put more than 1 team into post-season play this year? As usual, the first 2 months of the season will tell the tale as almost 90% of non-conference games come before the Christmas break. Given how young a number of the teams are this season that doesn't bode well, but we should see some improvement from the Gophers, Badgers and Buckeyes.
How will the conference standings shake out? Here's how I see it heading into the season:
1 - Minnesota
They lose Hudson Fasching but return the core of their regular season championship team as well as adding some talented youngsters.
2/3 - OSU and Michigan
OSU lose almost nothing from a team that wasn't far off from competing for a title last season.
Michigan lose a lot, but as always reload. How well the freshman integrate and acclimate to the college game will be key.
4/5 - PSU and Wisconsin
Penn St. lose a lot from last year (7 skaters, 6/11 top point-getters, both their goalies) . I expect this to be Gadowsky's most challenging season behind the PSU bench since their inauguration.
Wisconsin has their "dream team" coaching staff, some talented forwards in Grant Besse, Luke Kunin and freshman Trent Frederic. But they have been truly awful the past couple years and have significant questions in goal.
6 - Michigan St.
They sucked last year and it's hard to see them being any better this year. They lost 10 players from last year's team including leading scorer Mackenzie MacEachern and goaltender Jake Hildebrand. They have a roster with 8 freshman skaters and no proven netminder. Methinks this will be Anastos' last season...I mean....it has to be, right?
How about All-Conference honors?
F - Luke Kunin (UW)
F - Justin Kloos (MN)
F - Nick Schilkey (OSU)
D - Drew Brevig (OSU)
D - Jake Bischoff (MN)
G - Eric Schierhorn (MN)
ROY - Trent Frederic (UW)
COY - Don Lucia (MN)
