September 26, 2007
North Dakota Picked 1st By Coaches
CHN Staff Report
GRAND FORKS, N.D. — The Grand Forks Herald released its 37th annual WCHA preseason poll today, and North Dakota was picked by the league's head coaches to finish first.
UND received seven first-place votes, while Minnesota received the other three first-place votes and was picked to finish second. Colorado College was picked to finish third, and Denver was picked to finish fourth.
Three Fighting Sioux players received votes for the league's preseason player of the year, with junior forward Ryan Duncan, the 2007 Hobey Baker Award winner and 2007 AHCA first team All-American, garnering five votes; junior forward T.J. Oshie, a 2007 third team All-WCHA selection collecting three votes; and junior defenseman Taylor Chorney, a 2007 second team AHCA second team All-American, receiving one vote. Minnesota forward Kyle Okposo received one player of the year vote.
Wisconsin freshman Kyle Turris received nine votes as the league's preseason rookie of the year, with UND freshman forward Evan Trupp receiving one vote.
2007-08 WCHA Preseason Poll
1. North Dakota (7), 79
2. Minnesota (3), 74
3. Colorado College, 55
4. Denver, 53
5. Wisconsin, 52
6. St. Cloud State, 43
7. Michigan Tech, 41
8. Minnesota Duluth, 23
9. Minnesota State, 19
10. Alaska-Anchorage, 11
Preseason Player of the Year
Ryan Duncan, UND, 5
T.J. Oshie, UND, 3
Taylor Chorney, UND, 1
Kyle Okposo, Minn, 1
Preseason Rookie of the Year
Kyle Turris, UW, 9
Evan Trupp, UND, 1
