A week ago I took part in the 3rd Annual WCHA Blogger & Website Preseason Poll as one of 18 participants and thought it would be a good idea to break down my own picks for the final year of the conference as we know it going from 12 to 1. Kicking off the list is the University of Alaska-Anchorage, who finished last a season ago.
Someone has to be twelfth in the WCHA and unfortunately for the Seawolves odds are it will be them. Alaska-Anchorage does return goalie duo Rob Gunderson and Chris Kamal (of "Gopher killer during the WCHA first round" fame) along with Matt Bailey but they don't have much else.
The Seawolves struggled to score last year averaging two and a half goals per game and losing three of their top four scorers from last season (only Bailey, who led the team with a grand total of 17 points, returns) will not do anything to help that. Dave Shyiak's squad could really use a player like Eric Scheid, who left the team last season after his freshman year to return to the USHL, continuing to develop but as it is Anchorage will be a good mix of underclassmen and seniors.
Throw in a tough schedule that includes four games against Wisconsin and Minnesota with road games in Denver and Grand Forks and Alaska-Anchorage could struggle to reach last year's 11 points.
Agree with the picks? Disagree? Sound off below.
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