Western Collegiate Hockey Association coaches and media have picked the Bemidji State University men’s hockey team to finish fourth in the Mankato Free Press Western Collegiate Hockey Association Coaches’ and the Bemidji Pioneer WCHA Media preseason polls released today.

Minnesota State University, Mankato, the reigning MacNaughton Cup and two-time defending Broadmoor Trophy champions, have been tabbed as the favorite to win the MacNaughton Cup again in 2015-16 in both polls, gaining eight of the 10 possible first-place votes from the league’s coaches and 12-of-39 first-place votes from media around the league.

The same four schools – Minnesota State (first), Bowling Green (second / third), Michigan Tech (third / second) and Bemidji State (fourth) – finished 1-4 in both the coaches’ and media polls, with the Falcons and Huskies flip-flopping in the two rankings.

Bemidji State opens the season this Sunday with an exhibition game against the Manitoba Bisons. Faceoff on the Beaver Radio Network is set for 1:37pm.