In the interest of transparency, here is how I voted in the NCHC preseason poll and all-conference survey. The team and the poll were selected by three members of the media in each of the eight NCHC markets. A big thank you to Michael Weisman of the NCHC for including me.

NCHC preseason all-conference team

• F: Henrik Borgstrom, DU
• F: Dylan Gambrell, DU
• F: Shane Gersich, North Dakota
• F: Troy Terry, DU
• D: Jimmy Schuldt, St. Cloud State
• D: Louie Belpedio, Miami
• G: Tanner Jaillet, DU

Comment: Who knew you could pick four four forwards? I picked Borgstrom, Gambrell and Gersich. I flipped a coin between Borgstrom and Terry and strongly considered putting all three Pioneers on there. Still, Gersich was consistently strong and a major headache for DU last season. … On D I went with Belpedio and Schuldt’s teammate Jack Ahcan, whom I think will take a major leap this season. I also think Michael Davies of DU falls into the taking-a-big-step category. … Jaillet is a no-brainer in goal.

NCHC Preseason Poll

1. Denver
2. St. Cloud State
3. North Dakota
4. Minnesota Duluth
5. Miami
6. Western Michigan
7. Omaha
8. Colorado College

Comment: This was what I submitted with one exception – I had Omaha sixth and Western Michigan seventh because I think WMU lost too much. In fact, I could see Miami leap-frogging Duluth into fourth for the same reason – the Bulldogs were decimated. … DU, we know, is loaded. St. Cloud and Miami return a lot, including emerging goalies. And don’t sleep on North Dakota, which should have a lot of depth.