Mankato, Minn. ---- Minnesota State is rated first in 2018 Western Collegiate Hockey Association Preseason Polls conducted by both the Mankato Free Press and UAHHockey.com.

The Mavericks earned 88 points in the Free Press poll (coaches) poll, including seven first-place votes.
 

2018-19 Mankato Free Press WCHA Men's Hockey Preseason Coaches' Poll
Rk          Team (1st place votes)	Pts
1.           Minnesota State (7)	88
2.           Northern Michigan (2)	80
3.           Bowling Green	76
4.           Michigan Tech (1)	64
5.           Bemidji State	54
6.           Ferris State	49
7.           Lake Superior State	40
8.           Alaska	36
9.           Alabama Huntsville	35
10.         Alaska Anchorage	18

Minnesota State junior forward Marc Michaelis earned Preseason All-WCHA recognition. Michaelis, along with sophomore forward Jake Jaremko, received votes for WCHA Preseason Player of the Year.  Junior defenseman Ian Scheid and sophomore blueliner Connor Mackey received votes for the Preseason All-WCHA Team. Freshman netminder Dryden McKay and freshman forward Chris Van Os-Shaw both received votes for WCHA Preseason Rookie of the Year. 

Minnesota State scored 182 points and received 13 first-place votes in the UAHHockey.com poll conducted by the media.
 

2018-19 UAHHockey.com Men's Hockey Preseason Media Poll
Minnesota State (13)	182
Bowling Green (1)	159
Northern Michigan (5)	150
Michigan Tech	133
Bemidji State	110
Ferris State	102
Alabama-Huntsville	69
Lake Superior State	57
Alaska	47
Alaska-Anchorage	28

Michaelis and Jaremko were both selected Preseason First Team All-WCHA by the media. Junior forward Parker Tuomie and junior defenseman Ian Scheid were tabbed Preseason Second Tearm All-WCHA.  Sophomore forward Reggie Lutz received votes for Preseason All-WCHA.

Minnesota State, which posted a 29-10-1 mark in 2017-18, opens the 2018-19 season with a exhibition game Oct. 6 vs. Mount Royal (Calgary, Alta.) at 7:07 p.m. at Verizon Center.