Monarch on top of preseason hockey poll

Monarch is No. 1 in hockey’s preseason poll. (Ray Chen/ArrayPhoto.com

Monarch, which finished as runner-up a season ago, leads the 2015-16 preseason hockey ranking from CHSAANow.com.

The Coyotes, who lost to Cherry Creek in overtime during last season’s championship, received six of the nine first-place votes to lead the poll. Leading scorer Blake Bride, a first-team all-state pick last season, is expected back. Monarch has reached three-straight title games.

Narrowly behind Monarch is No. 2 Regis Jesuit, which reached the semifinals last season. The Raiders received one first-place vote.

Ralston Valley, a perennial power, is third, and defending champion Cherry Creek is fourth. The Bruins got two first-place votes.

Dakota Ridge, which pushed Cherry Creek during a stunning six-overtime game in the semifinals, rounds out the top-5.

Also ranked in the preseason are No. 6 Mountain Vista, No. 7 Resurrection Christian, No. 8 Denver East, No. 9 Lewis-Palmer and No. 10 Aspen.

The rankings, voted upon by coaches and select media members, are the official polls of the Association. During the regular season, the poll will release each Monday.

Complete rankings are below.

CHSAANow.com Hockey Poll

Voted upon by coaches and media members around the state. These rankings have no bearing on postseason seeding.

First-place votes are in parentheses.

Coaches and media members looking to vote should email rcasey@chsaa.org.