Defending Champs Picked 4th & 5th In CCHA Preseason Polls

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Big Rapids, Mich. - The Ferris State University men's ice hockey team, which is the defending Central Collegiate Hockey Association (CCHA) Regular-Season Champion, has been picked to finish in the top half of the league again as the conference released its annual preseason polls on Wednesday (Oct. 3).

The Bulldogs, who advanced to the national championship game at the 2012 Frozen Four, were tabbed to finish fourth by the media and fifth by the coaches from around the conference in 2012-13.

For the fifth time in seven years, the coaches and media disagree on who should own the No. 1 position in the CCHA's annual preseason polls. The conference's 11 head coaches ranked Notre Dame first for the second consecutive season, while voting from 87 members of the media tabbed Michigan as the preseason favorite.

In the coaches poll, the Fighting Irish captured seven first-place votes and one second, while Michigan took two first-place votes as well as six seconds to come in just five points behind the favorite. Western Michigan, last season's CCHA Tournament Champion, had the remaining first-place votes to finish third, just three points behind Michigan and eight behind the Irish. Miami finished fourth in the poll while the 2011-12 CCHA Regular-Season Champion and National Runner-Up Ferris State rounded out the top five.

The media voted in favor of Michigan, with Western Michigan coming in second and Notre Dame in third, agreeing with the coaches on which three teams should occupy top three.  The Wolverines picked up 50 of a possible 87 first-place votes, while the Broncos garnered 25 and the Irish received nine first-place votes.  The Bulldogs and RedHawks finished fourth and fifth, respectively, in the media poll as well.

Ferris State received three first-place votes from the media and 626 total points.  The coaches gave FSU 67 points in the voting format.  FSU hopes to build off last season's success this coming year, returning 18 letterwinners, including three of their top five scorers. 

A total of 87 media members ranked the 11 CCHA teams in projected order of finish for the regular season. Points were awarded on an 11-10-9-8, etc., basis. League coaches ranked the CCHA teams, excluding their own school, in the order they predicted the regular season will end.

In addition to the preseson league polls, FSU is currently ranked 11th in the USCHO.com National Preseason Poll along with 14th in the USA Today/USA Hockey Magazine Preseason Poll.

Single-game tickets for all 2012-13 Ferris State University hockey home contests are currently on sale. Fans can help the Bulldogs "Celebrate The Legacy" and catch the final year of CCHA action by purchasing tickets in advance for any home contest during the 2012-13 campaign.

This season, fans will be able to save on single-game tickets by purchasing in advance rather than waiting until gameday.  The Bulldogs sold out four of their final five home contests inside the Ewigleben Ice Arena last year.

The FSU Athletics Ticket Office is open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. (EDT) and on Saturday gamedays starting at 12 p.m. (ET).  They will also offer special extended hours on Wednesday's thru the end of the season until 7 p.m. (ET).  For more information on ticket sales, please contact the FSU Athletics Ticket Office at (231) 591-2888 or visit FerrisStateBulldogs.com.

Ferris State will open its 35th season of intercollegiate competition at the NCAA Division I level on Sunday, Oct. 7, with an exhibition contest versus Ryerson University in Big Rapids. The puck will drop at 3:05 p.m. (EDT) for the contest at FSU's Ewigleben Ice Arena.  Complimentary parking will be offered with a special magnet giveaway.

The regular-season home opener is on Oct. 19 as Mercyhurst comes to town for a two-game non-league series beginning at 7:05 p.m. (ET).