The road to the Central Collegiate Hockey Association championship will go through the University of Michigan hockey team, according to league coaches and media.

Michigan took the top spot in both the media and coaches preseason polls, the first time in four years that both polls agreed on which team is No. 1.

Michigan received five out of 11 first-place votes in the coaches poll, five second-place votes and one-third place vote. The Wolverines also received 24 of 66 first-place votes in the media poll.

“It doesn’t really matter, it won’t affect our team,” Michigan coach Red Berenson said today during a CCHA media day teleconference.

While Berenson probably is right, Michigan’s place at the top of both polls at least indicates the strength of Michigan’s program coming off a season in which it finished second in both the CCHA regular season and conference tournament.

The Wolverines have 19 returning players, including starting goalie Bryan Hogan, as well as six of its 10 top scorers from last season.

“I think we’re a little more settled in goal, and I think we’re a little deeper on defense,” Berenson said. “We like our team. Hopefully the chemistry and leadership are in place, and that’s really what it comes down to in the second half of the year.”

More from Berenson

Berenson also touched on several other topics during the teleconference.

On captain Chris Summers: “He’ll lead our defense and our team. He’s ready to have his best season, and hopefully that will set the tone for our team.”

On Hogan: “We brought him here to be a No. 1 goalie. I think he had tremendous growth last year, got a lot more confidence and got a feel for college hockey. Certainly, playing in the CCHA playoffs and going onto the NCAA playoffs was a great experience for him.”

On the CCHA's new point system, awarding three points for regulation and overtime victories, two points for shootout victories, and one point for shootout losses: “That was something the coaches have discussed on and off for the last two seasons. I think it was a good move for our league since we’re the only league playing with the shootout. Because of that, we had to go with the new point system, and I think it’s fair."

On Michigan being the only team not to participate in a shootout last season: “We practiced the shootout. We were looking forward to it. I was a big proponent of the shootout, but we never got to participate in one in a game, so that was ironic.”

On Michigan playing an outdoor game Feb. 6 at Wisconsin: “I think any time Division I college hockey can play an outdoor game, it’s great for the game and certainly great for the participants. We were fortunate to play at the game at Spartan Stadium in 2001. This game at (Camp Randall Stadium) will be a winter setting in February.”

On the Frozen Four being played at Ford Field in Detroit: “I think all the teams in our league would love to play at Ford Field. We may never have been there, never looked at it as an ice hockey facility … (but) we’re all excited that the Frozen Four is there and we’d love to be there.”

Two Michigan players voted preseason All-CCHA

Michigan junior forward Louie Caporusso tied with Miami junior forward Carter Camper as the top vote-getter (55) in CCHA preseason all-conference balloting. Hogan made the second team at goaltender.

Caporusso last season had 24 goals and 25 assists for Michigan. “We really need him to have a strong year up front,” Berenson said.

Hogan had a 26-6 record and a 1.97 goals-against average for the Wolverines.

James Briggs covers University of Michigan hockey for AnnArbor.com. Contact him at 734.623.2557 or jamesbriggs@annarbor.com.