Men's Ice Hockey

Preseason Media Poll & Awards Revealed

The Central Collegiate Hockey Association (CCHA) 2025-26 Preseason Media Poll & Awards have been announced and defending MacNaughton and Mason Cup Champions Minnesota State has been picked to win the league with eight first-place votes. Mavericks senior netminder Alex Tracy was selected as the Preseason Player of the Year after taking home numerous postseason honors in 2024-25. Five programs drew individual recognition from the conference's media cohort.
 
Minnesota State picked up 127 points in the media poll with eight of the 14 first-place votes. St. Thomas came away with two first-place votes and 115 points to come in second, while Bowling Green was third with 108 points and four first-place votes. Michigan Tech (100 points) was selected to take the fourth and final home ice position, with Augustana (95) not far behind. Bemidji State (75), Ferris State (54), Lake Superior State (49), and Northern Michigan (33) rounded out the poll.

CCHA Preseason Player of the Year: Alex Tracy, Sr., Minnesota State (Chicago, Ill.)

Tracy posted a 26-9-3 record with a 1.42 goals-against average and a .946 save percentage, with five shutouts. The CCHA Goaltender and Player of the Year, he was a three-time CCHA and National Goaltender of the Month. Playing in 25 of Minnesota State’s 26 conference games, Tracy went 17-5-3 with a 1.43 goals-against average and a .947 save percentage, which all led the league. A top-four finalist for the Mike Richter Award, he was also a Hobey Baker Award Top-10 Finalist.

CCHA Preseason Co-Rookie of the Year: Max Hildebrand, Fr., Bemidji State (Martensville, Sask.)

Hildenbrand joins the Beavers after being named WHL Goaltender of the Year with the Prince Albert Raiders in 2024-25. He went 33-16-5 with a 2.87 goals-against average and a .918 save percentage, compiling three shutouts. A two-time Team MVP and Humanitarian of the Year recipient, he appeared in 143 career games for Prince Albert, going 69-53-10 with a 3.06 GAA and a .905 SV% with five shutouts. 

CCHA Preseason Co-Rookie of the Year: Max Vig, Fr., Bemidji State (Bismarck, N.D.)

A seventh-round pick by the Montreal Canadiens in the 2025 NHL Entry Draft, Vig played for the Cedar Rapids RoughRiders of the USHL prior to arriving at Bemidji State. An alternate captain, he played in 62 games for the RoughRiders in 2024-25, scoring 10 goals with 22 assists for 32 points from the blue line. Posting a +9 rating, he was assessed 85 penalty minutes and was twice named USHL Defenseman of the Week.

St. Thomas senior captain Lucas Wahlin was joined by Michigan Tech senior Stiven Sardarian and Bowling Green junior Brody Waters as the Preseason All-CCHA forwards, as picked by the media. Wahlin produced 41 points on 17 goals and 24 assists last season, while playing all 38 games for the Tommies. Sardarian paced the Huskies with 11 goals and 24 assists for 35 points, while Waters had 16 goals and six assists for 22 points in 36 contests.

Reigning CCHA Defenseman of the Year Evan Murr of Minnesota State was a unanimous selection on the blue line, with Bemidji State sophomore Isa Parekh, who picked up All-Rookie Team honors in 2024-25. Tracy was also a unanimous selection at goaltender.

2025-26 CCHA Preseason Media Poll:  
Minnesota State – 127 (8 first-place votes)
St. Thomas – 115 (2)
Bowling Green – 108 (4)
Michigan Tech – 100
Augustana – 95
Bemidji State – 75 
Ferris State – 54
Lake Superior State – 49  
Northern Michigan – 33

2025-26 Preseason Media Players of the Year 
Alex Tracy, MSU

2025-26 Preseason Media Co-Rookie of the Year
Max Hildenbrand, BSU
Max Vig, BSU

2025-26 Preseason Media All-CCHA Team
Stiven Sardarian, MTU
Lucas Wahlin, UST
Brody Waters, BGSU
Evan Murr, MSU*
Isa Parekh, BSU
Alex Tracy, MSU*

* - Unanimous
 
CCHA Media Day will take place on Tuesday, September 16, beginning at 11am ET / 10am CT. Along with CCHA Commissioner Don Lucia and CCHA Director of Officiating Marco Hunt, all nine CCHA Head Coaches will preview the upcoming season and be available to answer questions from local, regional, and national media outlets via Zoom. 
 
The CCHA officially drops the puck on year five of the reconfigured league on Friday, October 3. Eight of the CCHA's nine teams will be in action on opening weekend, with Minnesota State getting its season underway on October 10.
  
Fans can stream all CCHA games live and on-demand, on their home televisions, computers, tablets, and mobile devices via Midco Sports Plus. The app is available on mobile/tablet apps (iOS and Android), connected TV device apps (AppleTV, FireTV and Roku) and a web-based browser interface. If you have additional questions or want to see more information about coverage or subscriptions, go to midcosports.com/ccha. 
 
For more information, contact:  
 
Perry Laskaris  
Director of Strategic Communications & Brand Advancement  
Central Collegiate Hockey Association (CCHA)  
Laskaris@ccha.com  
(651) 308-1065 Â