The defending 1996 NCAA Champion Michigan Wolverines are the runaway favorite to win the Central Collegiate Hockey Association again in 1996-97.
Michigan garnered all of the possible 9 first place votes in the coaches’ poll, while gaining 33 of 34 possible first place votes in the CCHA media poll.
Michigan State was the consensus second-place team. According to the league, Michigan State was picked in the second to third place range on all ballots.
In the coaches’ poll, it’s Bowling Green who gains the third place spot, followed by Lake Superior State, Western Michigan and Ferris State respectively.
Miami, Notre Dame, Alaska-Fairbanks and Ohio State make up places 7 through 10.
The CCHA Media Poll takes a slightly different spin on the league with Lake Superior slipping ahead of Bowling Green for third place and Western Michigan rounding off the top 5.
Miami is picked to finish 6th in the media poll, followed by Ferris State, Notre Dame, Ohio State and Alaska-Fairbanks.
CCHA Coaches’ Pre-season Poll
1. Michigan (9) 81
2. Michigan State 69
3. Bowling Green (1) 63
4. Lake Superior 61
5. Western Michigan 41
6. Ferris State 36
7. Miami 34
8. Notre Dame 28
9. Alaska-Fairbanks 22
10. Ohio State 15
CCHA Media Pre-season Poll
1. Michigan 339
2. Michigan State 270
3. Lake Superior 268
4. Bowling Green 254
5. Western Michigan 201
6. Miami 161
7. Ferris State 129
8. Notre Dame 114
9. Ohio State 74
10. Alaska-Fairbanks 60
