Anchorage Daily News

As predictable as the reek of sweat-drenched, post-game gear, both Western Collegiate Hockey Association coaches and media have picked UAA, which has finished last in the league three straight seasons, to four-peat.

Both groups not only picked defending MacNaughton Cup champion Colorado College to rule the regular season again, but also predicted the same order of finish for the teams, right down to a fourth-place tie between Minnesota and Wisconsin.

Both polls picked North Dakota second, Denver third, and the Gophers and Badgers to share fourth.

Likewise, St. Cloud State landed at sixth in both polls, followed by Minnesota State-Mankato, Minnesota-Duluth, Michigan Tech and the Seawolves.

The coaches' poll is annually released by the Grand Forks (N.D.) Herald. The Capital Times of Madison, Wis., compiled the media poll.

The polls differed when it came to forecasting rink rewards for individuals.

The coaches picked Colorado College sophomore goaltender Richard Bachman as preseason Player of the Year. Bachman last season went 25-9-1 with a 1.85 goals-against average and .931 save percentage.

The media went with Tigers senior sniper Chad Rau as its pick. Rau last season bagged 28-14--42 totals in 40 games.

As for newcomers, the media tagged Denver center Joe Colborne to be Rookie of the Year. Colborne, an 18-year-old freshman who was the first-round draft pick (16th overall) of the Boston Bruins last summer, is a 6-foot-5 center who earned 33-57--90 totals in 55 games last season for the Camrose Kodiaks of the Alberta Junior Hockey League.

The coaches split their votes for Rookie of the Year favorite between two players coming out of the U.S. Hockey League. North Dakota's Jason Gregoire earned 37-32--69 totals in 54 games with the Lincoln Stars. Minnesota-Duluth's Jack Connolly furnished 26-46--72 totals in 58 games with the Sioux Falls Stampede.

Seawolves notes

UAA's road games will again be broadcast live on GCI Channel 1 and home games will be broadcast on the same channel on a tape-delayed basis at 10:30 p.m. the night of those matches at Sullivan Arena.

Among road games, all are confirmed with the exception of series at North Dakota and Denver -- details are still being worked out there.

Also, The Coach Shyiak Show, featuring UAA bench boss Dave Shyiak, will be broadcast on Channel 1 at 8 p.m. Thursdays, beginning Oct. 9. One exception -- in two weeks, Shyiak's show will air Wednesday, Oct. 22 at 7:30 p.m.

On the recruiting front, Mickey Spencer, a forward who has committed to join the Seawolves next season, was named the British Columbia Hockey League's Player of the Week. After a slow start, Spencer had 4-3--7 totals in two games last weekend to give him 4-4--8 totals in seven games with the Cowichan Valley Capitals.

Around the rinks

Central Collegiate Hockey Association coaches pegged UAF to tie with Western Michigan for last place in the 12-team league. The CCHA media picked the Nanooks 11th, one spot above Western Michigan.

The coaches predicted a league title for Notre Dame, which lost the national championship game to Boston College last year. The Irish are backstopped by senior goaltender Jordan Pearce of Anchorage, who was named to the second team At-Large Academic All-American by ESPN The Magazine and the College Sports information Directors of America.

The media picked Michigan.

The St. Louis Blues shipped former Alaska Aces winger Charles Linglet down to their American Hockey League affiliate, the Peoria Rivermen, on Tuesday.

Linglet, 26, last season earned 24-42--66 totals and went plus-12 in 80 games with the Rivermen.

Find Doyle Woody's blog at adn.com/hockeyblog or call him at 257-4335.

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