CCHA coaches praise league's depth

GRAND RAPIDS - Central Collegiate Hockey Association coaches praised the overall strength of the league and picked Notre Dame to win the conference title as CCHA coaches and media polls were announced during Media Day held Tuesday at Van Andel Arena in Grand Rapids.

Lake Superior State was ranked 10th in the coaches and media polls. CCHA media ranked Michigan first and Notre Dame second, while U-M was ranked second behind UND in the coaches poll.

"We want to build on our strong second half," noted LSSU coach Jim Roque, whose team was 6-4-3 in February and March of the 2007-08 season and hopes to pick up where it left off. LSSU is playing in a CCHA cluster with Northern Michigan, Notre Dame and Bowling Green State, which means the Lakers will be playing four regular-season games against those three opponents.

"We are in a strong cluster," noted BGSU coach Scott Paluch. "Notre Dame made a strong push to get to the NCAA Tournament, and Lake Superior was playing well at the end of the year. Northern Michigan also made it all the way to the Joe. There are so many good young players in the CCHA on all the teams. There have not been too many defections (to professional hockey). The development of young players two to three years down the road is the key to success."

After a 1-8-0 start, NMU was 10-5-3 during the second half of last season and advanced to the CCHA semifinals. Notre Dame was 27-16-4 and lost to Boston College in the national championship game.

"Making it to the final game of last year was a first for us," said UND coach Jeff Jackson, who rated the CCHA as the top league in the nation in regard to overall depth. "I have seen consistent improvement in the league's depth...Any of the top six teams (in the poll) could finish first. I'm expecting a great conference, and every night will be challenging."

Michigan State coach Rick Comley was asked to comment on the new overtime shootout. The CCHA is the first collegiate men's hockey league in the nation to implement the tie-breaker format.

"We needed to eliminate ties, and this will keep people in the building," Comley said. "As coaches, we will definitely have to prepare for it. The league champion will probably be decided by its ability to win shootouts."

Red Berenson, who led the Michigan Wolverines to the CCHA regular-season title in 2007-08, is returning for his 25th season as U-M's head coach.

"The years go by quickly when you're having fun," Berenson said. "Last year we weren't supposed to be any good, and we surprised ourselves...And in the CCHA, there are always surprises."

CCHA Media Day was held at Van Andel Arena for the first time. The home of the Grand Rapids Griffins will also be the site of the NCAA Midwest Regional in late March.

"Having this venue for an NCAA regional is a huge benefit to our schools," CCHA Commissioner Tom Anastos said. "And so will having a school from our league play here and hopefully move on to the NCAA Tournament."

The CCHA also announced the 2008-09 TV schedule. To date, the only two LSSU games that will be televised are Jan. 24 at Bowling Green State and Feb. 7 at Michigan. Both games will be shown on Comcast Local.