Minnesota State is preseason favorites to win CCHA with Northern Michigan getting looks

DEEPHAVEN, Minn. — Minnesota State collected six first-place votes on its way to being picked as the favorite on Monday, Sept. 19, to win the CCHA league title this season.

The Mavericks are coming off a stellar 2021-22 season, compiling a 38-6-0 record before Denver knocked Minnesota State and its No. 1 ranking in the nation off in the Frozen Four championship game. The Pioneers beat the Mavericks 5-1 in the April 9 final.

The Mavericks, which won both the MacNaughton Cup (regular season) and the Mason Cup (conference tournament) last season, totaled 69 out of a possible 70 points overall in the 2022-23 preseason poll. Northern Michigan, which finished fifth in the conference last season, picked up two first-place votes and earned 61 points.

After a sixth-place finish last season, Bowling Green was picked to finish third by the coaches.

Minnesota State earned its second consecutive appearance in the Frozen Four last season and made the title game for the first time. The Mavericks return 20 players but will be without Hobey Baker Award winner Dryden McKay in goal. Among the returnees will be senior captains Brendan Furry (14 goals, 35 assists) and Cade Borchardt (15 goals, 27 assists).

Northern Michigan returns 17 players and the conference's eighth-leading scorer in AJ Vanderbeck (24 goals, 19 assists), who scored a league-high eight power play goals and ranked first in shots per game (4.47).