Last Monday the official preseason polls made their debut and the Tigers will start out well. USAToday/HockeyMag ranks the Tigers #5 and has 5 WCHA teams in the top 10. Defending champ BC gets the obvious top spot (this isn't college football where politics determine number one this season) followed by evil Michigan and Notre Dame. The WCHA powerhouse teams go the next three with North Dakota, CC and DU at 4-5-6 respectively, and Minnesota at #9.

I am a little surprised at CC's rank and apparent high expectations (The Tigers recieved 2 first place votes, third most) and rank after last season's playoff face-plant. Voters obviously see the Tigers' regular season as a sign of things to come and not a fluke and that they will learn from their experiences last season. Personally, I think the Tigers will be very good and will probably have a shot at a second MacNaughton Cup but it will be a battle for an outright win. I think it will be a season of "As Bachman goes, so go the Tigers", no pressure Richard!
DU is a little of a question to me, they played poorly a lot last season but could win the big games and tournaments, something CC needs to learn. North Dakota will be strong and is probably my favorite for the WCHA title right now. Minnesota is my ? for the preseason. They limped through the season last year and barely made the WCHA tourney and promptly preformed very well, with a little help from CC's weak showing. Should be a great season!

USA Today/USA Hockey Magazine Poll
September 22, 2008

Also receiving votes: Princeton 51, Cornell 30, Harvard 30, Minnesota State 28, Air Force 24, Massachusetts 9, UMass Lowell 9, Niagara 9, Vermont 6, Maine 3, Northeastern 3.