Beavers voted to finish fourth in CCHA Preseason Coaches Poll; fifth in Media Poll
Freshman Eric Pohlkamp tabbed as Preseason Rookie of the Year
The Bemidji State University Men’s Hockey team garnered 49 points in the 2023-24 Central Collegiate Hockey Association Preseason Coaches Poll Monday morning and were slotted to finish fourth ahead of the 2023-24 season. Bemidji State was also voted to finish fifth in the CCHA Preseason Media Poll earning 100 points in the poll.
Bemidji State freshman Eric Pohlkamp was voted by league coaches and media memnbers as the Preseason Rookie of the Year and becomes the first Beaver to be named Preseason Rookie of the Year in the program’s Division I history. Fifth-year senior Kyle Looft was voted by media members to the All-CCHA Preseason Team.
Michigan Technological University was slotted as the top vote getter in both polls with Northern Michigan University second.
2023-24 CCHA Preseason Coaches Poll
1. Michigan Tech (4) 67
2. Northern Michigan (3) 66
3. Bowling Green 55
4. Bemidji State 49
5. St. Thomas (1) 45
Minnesota State 45
7. Ferris State 36
8. Lake Superior State 29
( ) – First place votes
2023-24 CCHA Preseason Media Poll
1. Michigan Tech (11) 152
2. Northern Michigan (2) 133
3. Bowling Green (2) 124
4. Minnesota State (1) 114
5. Bemidji State 100
6. St. Thomas 88
7. Ferris State 72
8. Lake Superior State 49
( ) – First place votes
Pohlkamp, a Brainerd, Minn., native, prepares for his first season with the green and white and comes to Bemdji State after playing two seasons of junior hockey with the Cedar Rapids RoughRiders of the United State Hockey League. In 2022-23 he was named the USHL Defenseman of the Year after leading all league defensemen with 51 points off 16 goals and 35 assists. Pohlkamp was drafted in the fifth round of the 2023 NHL Entry Draft (#132) by the San Jose Sharks.
Michigan Tech’s Austen Swankle and Michigan Tech’s Blake Pietila were selected as the CCHA Co-Preseason Players of the Year while Andre Ghantous (NMU), Kyle Kukkonen (MTU), Swankler, Ben Wozney (BGSU), Josh Zinger (NMU) and Pietila (MTU) were all named Preseason All-CCHA.
2023-24 CCHA Preseason Coaches Poll:
Co-Preseason Players of the Year
Austen Swankler, MTU
Blake Pietila, MTU
Preseason Rookie of the Year
Eric Pohlkamp, BSU
Preseason All-CCHA
Andre Ghantous, F, NMU
Kyle Kukkonen, F, MTU
Austen Swankler, F, MTU
Ben Wozney, D, BGSU
Josh Zinger, D, NMU
Blake Pietila, G, MTU
2023-24 CCHA Preseason Media Poll:
Preseason Players of the Year
Austen Swankler, MTU
Preseason Rookie of the Year
Eric Pohlkamp, BSU
Preseason All-CCHA
Andre Ghantous, F, NMU
Kyle Kukkonen, F, MTU
Austen Swankler, F, MTU
Kyle Looft, D, BSU
Josh Zinger, D, NMU
Jed Pietila, D, MTU
Blake Pietila, G, MTU
Bemidji State will face-off with University of Minnesota for an exhibition Oct. 8 in Minneapolis, Minn., before officially opening the 2023-24 season at home by co-hosting the 2023 Ice Breaker Tournament Oct. 13-14. The Beavers will play host to University of Wisconsin and Army-West Point at Sanford Center.