The Gopher hockey team was named the Preseason #1 team in the Big Ten in the Preseason Big Ten Coaches Poll released on Monday. The Gophers also had four players named to the Big Ten Watch List, more than any other school.
The Big Ten coaches see the Gophers as the favorites to win their fourth straight Big Ten regular season championship and their sixth consecutive regular season title overall. Following the Gophers are Ohio State at #2, Michigan at #3, Penn State at #4, Wisconsin at #5, and Michigan State bringing up the rear.
Of some surprise may be the rise of the Buckeyes to the #2 spot, but Ohio State returns most of its offense from a year ago, meanwhile Michigan is missing six of their top seven scorers from a year ago.