Coaches Pick Gophers Men's Hockey To Win Big Ten Title
MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) – The University of Minnesota men's hockey team is the consensus preseason favorite to win the Big Ten Conference title this season, according to the coaches poll released Wednesday.
The Gophers won the inaugural Big Ten title last year with a 14-3-3 record in league play. They finished the season 28-7-6 overall and got to the national championship game before falling to Union College.
Michigan was picked to finished second by Big Ten coaches, with Wisconsin slated for third. Coaches also selected 16 players that were put on a "Players to Watch" list, which includes five players from Minnesota.
They include forwards Kyle Rau and Sam Warning, defensemen Mike Reilly and Brady Skjei and goalie Adam Wilcox. Rau, Reilly and Wilcox were unanimous selections by the coaches.
Wilcox returns to the Gophers after winning Big Ten Player of the Year and Goaltender of the Year honors last season.