College Hockey News has its preseason top 10 out. Denver is rated No. 1. The only other WCHA team on the list is Minnesota at No. 6.

The top 10:

1. Denver

2. Miami (Ohio)

3. Boston Univ.

4. Cornell

5. Michigan

6. Minnesota

7. Princeton

8. Notre Dame

9. Mass.-Lowell

10. Yale

CHN comments on the Gophers:

6. Minnesota: A usual NCAA postseason staple, the Gophers fell short of expectations last season, but if their late-season run showed anything, it was that they’d be back with a vengeance in 2009-10.

They lose top scorer Ryan Stoa to the pro ranks, but return Jordan Schroeder, who excelled as a freshman, and Jay Bariball on a deep offense that will be complemented by a defense led by Cade Fairchild and Aaron Ness, both of whom matured nicely as the roller coaster season continued. The biggest piece of the puzzle will be seeing which Alex Kangas shows up in net — the one who gave up 42 goals in a 12 game mid-season stretch, or the one who allowed just 19 over the final nine matches of the season.

NOTES

* Workers began putting ice at the Ralph on Tuesday in Grand Forks, N.D. … I just booked a hotel room there for the Gophers vs. North Dakota series Oct. 16-17. What a way for the U to start the season.

* The Sioux will have a different look. Literally. New jerseys. Instead of diagonally stripes at the waist, the Sioux have horizontal stripes there and on their arms. Same dominant colors, green and white.

* About 1,100 students camped out last weekend to get Sioux hockey.

* SI is working on a story on the Lamoureux twins, Jocelyne and Monique. Wonder if Gary Smith can get to tell why they really left the U of M for home after one season.

This entry was posted on Wednesday, September 16th, 2009 at 11:33 pm and is filed under Gophers men's hockey. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.