The WCHA Coaches’ and Media Polls came out today and they both agreed on every pick, one through ten. Colorado College is picked to repeat, while North Dakota took second, and Denver rounded out the top three.

In a tie for fourth was Wisconsin and Minnesota, however, we might see them move up by the end of the year. St. Cloud State took sixth, while last year’s surprise, Minnesota State, was picked seventh. Watch out for the MSU Mavericks in 2008-09 as they have a chip on their shoulder from being the last team out of the NCAA tournament in 2007-08.

In the bottom three were Minnesota-Duluth, Michigan Tech and Alaska-Anchorage.

While both polls are the same, there is a different opinion from someone at Inside Hockey about both polls. Here is a look at my WCHA picks for 2008-09.

Rosie’s WCHA Picks:

1. Colorado College
2. Denver
3. Minnesota
4. North Dakota
5. Wisconsin
6. Minnesota State
7. St. Cloud State
8. Minnesota-Duluth
9. Michigan Tech
10. Alaska-Anchorage

Once again, the WCHA is going to be a tough league this year. There could be a sleeper team, such as Wisconsin, who could sneak up not only in the league, but also could, by a surprise team to many in the country.

Look for North Dakota, who has a tough second half schedule, to finish no higher than fourth this year. Denver, Minnesota and Wisconsin all have a chance to overtake UND, who has a goaltending controversy, and lost some key underclassmen.

On the other hand, the Sioux are still an NCAA team. There is no doubt right now that the top five all should be in the NCAAs in March.

According to Brad Elliott Schlossman of The Grand Forks Herald it was posted on his blog that the younger brother of Jonathan Toews, David Toews, a freshman at North Dakota, will not travel with the team to the Icebreaker this weekend. David Toews will stay home and rehab an injury that is not said to be serious according to North Dakota head coach Dave Hakstol.

Everyone else will travel with the team for the Sioux this weekend. In fact, both goaltenders senior Aaron Walski and freshman Brad Eisness, are expected to play one game each.

Wisconsin head coach Mike Eaves knew his team was in for a tough test to open the season as they traveled east to take on No. 1 Boston College and No. 7 New Hampshire. But after falling to the Eagles 5-4 Friday and the Wildcats 5-1 Saturday, Eaves was pleased with what he saw out of his freshmen over the weekend.

"I think the weekend for our freshmen overall was pretty good," Eaves said at his press conference Monday. "You take a look at the numbers, the numbers say the same things that we felt in terms of production. So from that standpoint, it was a good springboard for them. We need to continue to build on that."

Freshman Jordy Murray, who played for Shattuck-St. Mary's in Faribault, Minn. (the same school as teammate Jamie McBain) contributed twice in the 5-4 loss to BC. His second-period goal Friday tied the game at 2-2, and he assisted on fellow freshman Eric Springer's goal that put Wisconsin up 3-2.

Ryan Little and Jake Gardiner were the other two freshmen on the scoring sheet for the Badgers. Little had two assists against the Eagles, while Gardiner got the helper on Patrick Johnson's first-period goal Friday.

It was tough for Eaves to single out one freshman as the top newcomer.

"You could put a blanket on several of them. I think that you go right down the list, Jordy Murray, Derek Stepan, Matt Thurber did his thing," Eaves said. "There were some times that the young defensemen actually did some very nice things in playing their first college game."

Eaves noted that their inexperience also showed over the weekend, however, as 10 goals were allowed in two games.

"We had three freshman defensemen in the lineup Friday night against the No. 1 team in the country," Eaves said. "We were kind of worried about that."

It took goaltender Scott Gudmandson just four games last year as a freshman to get his first career start. One year later, his first start came two games earlier.

As Wisconsin opened its season with a tough road swing against Boston College and New Hampshire Friday and Saturday, head coach Mike Eaves decided to switch up the goalie situation between the two games.

Senior netminder Shane Connelly made the start Friday, stopping 32 shots in a 5-4 loss. So in an effort to get the sophomore Gudmandson some experience, Eaves wasted no time in throwing the sophomore into the fire against New Hampshire.

Although he was tabbed with the 5-1 loss, Gudmandson made 28 saves in his first collegiate road start.

"In talking to Scotty on the way home, he knows that he played well. He looked very sharp," Eaves said. "The first goal was kind of unfortunate because it went off the glass, he didn't know where it was, and it ended up on their stick and in the net. And then they scored within a minute later. That one wasn't his fault, but the third one he'd like to have back."

Don't read too much into Eaves starting Gudmandson so early. It was the same scenario a season ago--although Gudmandson faced Robert Morris, not New Hampshire--but Gudmandson ended the season with just three starts. Expect the veteran Connelly to carry the load the rest of the way for Wisconsin.

This past January, the Wisconsin Badgers lost 3-2 to Denver in a controversial no-goal call by referee Randy Schmidt in the first game of a two-game series. After a 7-2 win the following evening, it was clear the Badgers had used that situation as motivation for the rest of the season.

So as they head back to Denver this weekend to face the Pioneers in the WCHA opener, it would be natural if there was still some bad blood between the two teams.

But that's not the case, according to UW goaltender Shane Connelly.

"I think everyone’s moved on from that," he said.

That's not to say they have forgotten the controversy completely.

"You always remember from last year Fordo’s goal that got disallowed," sophomore forward Patrick Johnson said.

What Connelly thinks might be the bigger story line is the last game these two schools played against each other. Wisconsin topped Denver 6-2 in the NCAA Midwest Regional Semifinals in late March, ending DU's season.

Regardless, Connelly knows it's going to be a classic battle between two WCHA foes both anxious to get the season underway.

"I just think two teams that have respect for each other, it’s the WCHA home opener, they’re 1-0 but they want to start the WCHA off good," Connelly said. "I just think the natural element of two WCHA teams starting league play is enough motivation for anybody."

Wisconsin (0-2) is looking to rebound after a tough weekend out east against Boston College and New Hampshire--both losses. They'll have their hands full with another tough opponent in the No. 4 Pioneers.

"I remember them being pretty physical and big, fast guys. They have a lot of guys right on you as soon as you have the puck," sophomore defenseman Ryan McDonagh said. "Talking with some of the other [defensemen], we know we’ve got to make quick decisions because they’re going to be on us right away."

"They’re a good team, and tough to play in their building," Johnson said. "We’re going to go out there trying to play hard and hope things come."