Notre Dame is the choice of the CCHA coaches and media members to top the conference in 2011-12, according to results of preseason polls released Wednesday in conjunction with the league’s media day.

The Fighting Irish, fresh off their second NCAA Frozen Four trip in four seasons, earned eight of 11 first-place votes in the CCHA coaches poll and 44 first-place mentions in the league’s media poll. Miami, 2011 NCAA Tournament runner-up Michigan, Western Michigan, and Alaska rounded out the top five in both polls.

CCHA Preseason Media Poll (total points and first-place votes in parentheses)
1. Notre Dame (819 points, 44 first-place votes)
2. Miami (772, 16)
3. Michigan (757, 12)
4. Western Michigan (604)
5. Alaska (449)
6. Michigan State (439)
7. Ferris State (425)
(tie) Northern Michigan (425)
9. Ohio State (386)
10. Lake Superior State (298)
11. Bowling Green (170)

CCHA Preseason Coaches Poll (total points and first-place votes in parentheses)
1. Notre Dame (108 points, 8 first-place votes)
2. Miami (99, 2)
3. Michigan (93, 1)
4. Western Michigan (83)
5. Alaska (63)
6. Northern Michigan (60)
7. Ohio State (56)
8. Michigan State (51)
9. Ferris State (50)
10. Lake Superior State (30)
11. Bowling Green (22)

The league’s coaches also cast ballots for preseason All-CCHA teams. The results of that voting:

Preseason All-CCHA First Team
F-Anders Lee, Notre Dame
F-Reilly Smith, Miami
F-T.J. Tynan, Notre Dame
D-Torey Krug, Michigan State
D-Jon Merrill, Michigan
G-Cody Reichard, Miami

Preseason All-CCHA Second Team
F-Chase Balisy, Western Michigan
F-Tyler Gron, Northern Michigan
F-David Wohlberg, Michigan
D-Will Weber, Miami
D-Chris Wideman, Miami
G-Scott Greenham, Alaska

Honorable Mention: Dan DeKeyser, D, Western Michigan; Justin Florek, F, Northern Michigan; Kevin Kapalka, G, Lake Superior State; Cody Kunyk, F, Alaska; Brett Perlini, F, Michigan State; Matt Tennyson, D, Western Michigan; Zach Trotman, D, Lake Superior State