Graphic by Adam Niemi/The Daily Mining Gazette

The Michigan Tech hockey team was picked No. 5 in the CCHA Preseason Coaches’ Poll on Monday.

Senior Huskies goaltender Blake Pietila was named to the All-CCHA Preseason Team.

Minnesota State was selected to win the MacNaughton Cup, given to the conference’s regular season champion.

The Mavericks, defending CCHA champions and Frozen Four finalists, also won the 2022 Mason Cup, the trophy awarded to the CCHA Tournament champions. The Mavericks received six first-place votes and 69 of a possible 70 points.

Northern Michigan (61) was picked No. 2, followed by Bowling Green (58), Bemidji State (51), Michigan Tech (47), Lake Superior State (45), Ferris State (32) and St. Thomas (30).

Pietila, of Howell, started all 37 games last season. He had a 21-13-2 record, 1.91 goals-against average and a .918 save percentage. Pietila was selected to the All-CCHA Second Team. He also tied the Huskies record with seven shutouts. He ranked No. 4 nationally in shutouts and No. 7 in GAA. He was a semifinalist for the Mike Richter Award as the nation’s top collegiate goalie. Pietila was named CCHA Goaltender of the Week four times during last season.

The Huskies play two exhibition games Oct. 1 and Oct. 3 against Lake Superior State and Lakehead University (Thunder Bay, Ont.), respectively. Puck drop against LSSU is 2:07 p.m., and 6:07 p.m. against Lakehead.

The Huskies’ regular season begins Oct. 7 at Ferris State, and another exhibition game Oct. 8 at the US National Development team. The Huskies’ home opener is Oct. 21-22 against Bemidji State for the first conference matchups of the season.