8BFc0 001 uedyAb 2001 0 0 CCHA CONTENDERS Notre Dame After a dismal 9-12-7 in- conference record last season, the Fighting Irish could easily be the biggest dark-horse con- tender this winter. Since Notre Dame coach Jeff Jackson took the reins five years ago, the team has won the CCHA regular sea- son and tournamenttitles twice, made three trips to the NCAA Tournament and advanced to Notre Dame's first Frozen Four appearance in 2008. With a wealth of young players - 12 freshmen compared to five seniors - Jackson wants to put last seasonbehind him. Nobody on the team cracked the top 20 scorers in the CCHA last season, but through just two games so far, sophomore Nick Larson and freshman Anders Lee have both netted three goals. As the primary goalie last year, Johnson posted a 2.50 goals against average, but with Summerhays pacing him this season, count on Notre Dame to have some great defensive play. Miami (Ohio) After the RedHawks lost 3-2 to Boston University in the 2009 Frozen Four final, they held a top-five ranking all of last sea- son. Miami coasted to a 21-2-5 CCHA record, took third in the conference tournament and beat Michigan to reach the Frozen Four. Even after a 7-1 drubbing at the hands of Boston College in the semifinals of the tourna- ment this spring, the RedHawks enter as perhapsthe frontrunner to capture the CCHA title. This season, No. 4 Miami returns the goalies that led them nearly untouched through last sea- son, juniors Cody Reichard and Conner Knapp. Reichard - the CCHA Player ofthe Year - post- ed an unbeaten 15-0-2 record. With two of the conference's top eight scorers back on the ice for the RedHawks this year, don't expect them to go any- where in the CCHA standings. They will be a force atop the conference and on the national scene. Alaska Fairbanks After several inauspicious years of CCHA play, No.14 Alas- ka is perhaps the most up-and- coming program. Despite the disadvantage of having to travel over six hours to play nearly every opponent, the Nanooks are becoming a formidable power, posting a fifth-place fin- ish in the conference last season. With only five seniors return- ing, the Nanooks are still a very young team, but they retained most of their young talent - the skilled players who led them to success in the regular season last year. Junior goal- tender Scott Greenham is back between the pipes again, after posting an admirable 2.34 goals against average in 28 starts last season. A year ago, then-freshman Andy Toranto lit up the opposi- tion, finishing fifth in the points race and receiving the CCHA Rookie of the Year award. With Toranto returning for a second year, expect him to produce even more. Ferris State Even after losing leading scorer Blair Riley, Ferris State, which finished third in the CCHA last year, is returning most of its 2009 roster and has added a few key compo- nents. Coach Bob Daniels, in his 18th year at the helm in Big Rapids, is working to lead his team back to the NCAA tour- nament for the second time in program history. With goaltenders Pat Nagle and Taylor Nelson back again, expect Daniels to keep the two goalies, who combined for a 21-13-6 record last year, mov- ing in and out of the Bulldogs' net. In the opening series against Alabama-Huntsville last weekend, Nagle picked up his first victory in 4-1 fashion. But Nelson was roughed up for four goals the next night. Don't be surprised to see Ferris State knock off a few quality opponents this season and make a run at the confer- ence title. Northern Michigan The Wildcats have some huge holes to fill this season. After finishing with a 13-9-6 CCHA record, good for fourth place in the conference, this season is make-or-break. Forward Mark Oliver was the points leader in the conference (35), and goalie Brian Steward racked up 12 wins and three shutouts. But both of those players, along with CCHA Player of the Year finalist Erik Gustafs- son, graduated in the spring, leavingtheunderachievingWild- cats with many questions left to answer But don't expect them to lie down and let older, more experi- enced teams skate all over them. Last year Northern Michigan came into Yost and thrashed Michigan 3-1 in their first meet- ing. The Wildcat offensive attack includes Swedish forward Gregor Hanson - seventh in points last year (29) - and freshman for- ward Erik Higby, who tallied a hat trick the first time he hit the ice this season. defenses will be able to contend with this season. STAFF PICKS The Daily hockey writers take their best shot to predict what will happen in the world of college hockey during Michigan's 2010-11 campaign. Stephen Nesbitt marns sanra Burns Pagni CCHA First Place Michigan Michigan Michigan Miari(Ohio) CCHA Second Place Miami(Ohio) Alaska Miami(Ohio) Michigan CCHAThird Place Alaska Miami(Ohio) Alaska Alaska MasoncupWinner Miami(Ohio) Alaska Miami(Ohio mi(hio) Mason Cup Runner-Up Alaska Michigan Michigan Michigan rHACoachoftheYe Dallas Ferguson Alaska Red Berenson Jeff Jackson, Notre Dame Jackson GIcampion MichiganM ichigan State Michigan Mchigan Michigan MVP Louie Caporusso David Wohlberg Caporusso Carl Hagelin. Michigan Top Scorer Caporusso Caporusss Caporusso Caporusso Top Michigan Freshman Jon Merrill Merrill Merrill Merrill, Frozen Fouri1 Bos~t College Michigan North Dakota Michigan . Frozen Four 2 Michigan Boston College Boston Cclege Miamni(Ohio . Frozen Four 3 DenverNe Hampshire Michigan Boston College .... Frozen Four4 North Dakota Wisconsin Denver Minn - Duluth National Champion Boston College Michigan North Dakota Miamni(Ohio .