GRAND FORKS, N.D. -- With the season opener only 65 days away, the hype has begun for the 2011-12 college hockey season.

The Fighting Sioux, the defending Western Collegiate Hockey Association (WCHA) champions, were ranked No. 3 in the Inside Collge Hockey "10 for 12" preseason top 10 released earlier this week.

INCH said of UND:

"Not many teams can lose six of its seven top scorers from the previous season and still be considered a national title contender. But the Fighting Sioux reload, not rebuild. Plugging incoming freshman Rocco Grimaldi into a lineup that includes Corban Knight, Danny Kristo (who we expect to return to his rookie-year form), talented sophs Brock Nelson and Derek Forbort, and INCH Goalie of the Year Aaron Dell should keep folks in Grand Forks buzzing about a spring trip to Tampa."

The Sioux went 32-9-3, the third-highest win total in program history, and advanced to their fifth NCAA Frozen Four in the past seven years. UND also captured its second MacNaughton Cup in three years as WCHA regular season champions, and its second straight Broadmoor Trophy as WCHA playoff champions.

Earlier this summer, INCH tabbed junior forward Danny Kristo has one of its 10 players to watch for the 2011-12 Hobey Baker Award race.

INCH 2011-12 "10 for 12" (Teams)
1. Miami
2. Notre Dame
3. North Dakota
4. Yale
5. Denver
6. Union
7. Boston University
8. Colorado College
9. Minnesota Duluth
10. Michigan

INCH 2011-12 "10 for 12" (Players)
Jack Connolly, F, Minnesota Duluth
Brian Dumoulin, D, Boston University
Danny Kristo, F, North Dakota
Anders Lee, F, Notre Dame
Shane Madolora, G, RIT
Brian O'Neill, F, Yale
Justin Schultz, D, Wisconsin
Jaden Schwartz, F, Colorado College
Reilly Smith, F, Miami
Jeremy Welsh, F, Union

UND opens the 2011-12 season on Oct. 1 with an exhibition game against the University of Regina. The complete 2011-12 schedule will be unveiled on FightingSioux.com in the near future.

~Go Sioux~