COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – The Western Michigan hockey team was picked to finish in fifth place as the National Collegiate Hockey Conference released its annual media poll on Monday morning.
 
The Broncos earned 116 points in the poll, just 10 shy of fourth place St. Cloud State and 20 ahead of Omaha. The voters tabbed North Dakota to repeat as the Penrose Cup winners, with the Fighting Hawks receiving 27 of the 28 first place votes.
 
A total of 28 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.
 
Western Michigan heads to Omaha, Neb., to open the 2020-21 schedule in the NCHC Pod, beginning on Dec. 1 against St. Cloud State. WMU will play 10 games over the course of 18 days before returning to a normal conference travel schedule beginning on Jan. 2. All games in the NCHC Pod are available on NCHC.tv
 
2020-21 NCHC Preseason Media Poll
1. North Dakota – 223 points (27 first-place votes)
2. Denver – 185 (1)
3. Minnesota Duluth - 173
4. St. Cloud State - 126
5. Western Michigan -116
6. Omaha - 96
7. Colorado College - 45
8. Miami – 44