UMD – 208 points (17 first-place votes) Denver – 187 (7) North Dakota – 183 (4) Omaha – 148 Miami – 142 (2) St. Cloud State – 117 Western Michigan – 60 Colorado College – 35

Media that cover the National Collegiate Hockey Conference have spoken and they collectively see the University of Minnesota Duluth as the team to beat in 2015-16.UMD received 17 of 30 first-place votes from the media and totaled 208 points to place first in the NCHC Preseason Poll, which was released today. The University of Denver was picked second with 187 points and seven first-place votes followed by the University of North Dakota, the defending Penrose Cup champions, (183 points and four first-place votes), the University of Nebraska-Omaha (148 points.), Miami University (142 points and two first-place votes), last year's NCHC Forzen Faceoff champion, St. Cloud State University (117 points), Western Michigan University (60 points) and Colorado College (35 points).UMD returns 21 lettermen back from a year when it went 21-16-3 overall, placed fifth in the final NCHC standings at 12-9-3 and advanced to the NCAA Northeast Regional finals. The Bulldogs will officially open preseason practice a week from this Saturday (Oct. 3) before taking on Lakehead University the following night in an exhibition clash at AMSOIL Arena.This marks the first time since the 2004-05 season that the Bulldogs have been picked first in any preseason league poll. UMD was then a member of the Western Collegiate Hockey Association.A total of 30 ballots were submitted by local media members from each school, as well as select national media. Points were awarded on a descending scale with a first-place vote worth eight points, a second-place vote worth seven points and so on.