DETROIT – The Gophers head into the new hockey season as the Big Ten favorite. The coaches selected the national runner-up to win their second consecutive Big Ten regular-season championship the conference announced on Wednesday morning at Big Ten hockey media day at Joe Louis Arena in Detroit.
The Gophers also led the Big Ten Players to Watch list with five mentions – forwards Kyle Rau and Sam Warning, defensemen Mike Reilly and Brady Skjei, and goaltender Adam Wilcox.
Rau, Reilly and Wilcox were unanimous selections along with Michigan's JT Compher and Andrew Copp, and Wisconsin's Joel Rumpel.
Wilcox was last year's Big Ten Player and Goaltender of the Year, and Reilly was the Defensive Player of the Year.
The Gophers open the season Oct. 10 at the Ice Breaker Tournament in South Bend, Ind., against Minnesota Duluth. Their Big Ten opener is Dec. 5 at Michigan State.
2014-15 BIG TEN PRESEASON POLL
1. Minnesota
2.Michigan
3.Wisconsin
4.Ohio State
5.Michigan State
6.Penn State
2014-15 BIG TEN PRESEASON PLAYERS TO WATCH#
JT Compher, F, Michigan*
Andrew Copp, F, Michigan*
Matt Berry, F, Michigan State
Jake Hildebrand, G, Michigan State
Kyle Rau, F, Minnesota*
Mike Reilly, D, Minnesota*
Brady Skjei, D, Minnesota
Sam Warning, F, Minnesota
Adam Wilcox, G, Minnesota*
Drew Brevig, D, Ohio State
Christian Frey, G, Ohio State
Tanner Fritz, F, Ohio State
Nick Schilkey, F, Ohio State
Luke Juha, D, Penn State
Joseph LaBate, F, Wisconsin
Joel Rumpel, G, Wisconsin*
