'JACKETS PICKED FOURTH IN NCHA POLL
 
The NCHA recently conducted its annual coach's poll, and the 2008-09 Yellowjackets have been chosen to finish fourth in the eight-team league.  It's the same place that last year's squad was chosen to finish, a pre-season prediction that ultimately came true.

"I never have, and probably never will, put a lot of stock in pre-season polls," said Yellowjacket Head Coach Dan Stauber.  "It gives people something to talk about, something to debate, but ultimately it's all speculation.  There are so many things that go into how a team finishes their season that it's tough to put any stock in a poll that occurs before a season begins."

Defending NCAA champion St. Norbert, who has won ten of the last 12 regular season titles, has once again been favored to take home the NCHA crown.  The Green Knights received seven of the eight first place votes.  St. Scholastica received the other first place vote.

"I think you have to vote for St. Norbert.  They are the defending national champions and they have a very talented roster returning.  That doesn't take into account any of the players that they have coming in, so they should once again be an extremely tough team and are definitely the favorite in our league."

2008 NCHA Coach's Poll (first place votes in parenthesis)
1. St. Norbert (7)
2. UW-River Falls
3. UW-Stout
4. UW-SUPERIOR
5. UW-Stevens Point
6. St. Scholastica (1)
7. UW-Eau Claire
8. Lake Forest

"It's tough to rank the teams in our league because it is so deep.  Every team is talented and every team can beat every other team.  I expect this season to be much like every other year, plenty of surprises, a lot of teams with very similar records and everything coming down to the final week of the season," Stauber said.

The 'Jackets kick off the 2008-09 season Thursday night, when they host Northland College.  Game time is 7:05 p.m. and can be heard live locally on 91.3 FM KUWS.  If you are outside the local listening area, you can tune in via the Internet at www.kuws.fm or by accessing the link on www.jackethockey.com.  Jon Garver will have the call of the season opener.