University of Minnesota Duluth sophomore goaltender Kasimir Kaskisuo and senior defenseman Andy Welinski both enjoyed bumper years last winter and the media that cover the National Collegiate Hockey Conference are expecting more of the same from that tandem in 2015-16.

Those two Bulldogs joined fourth other individuals on the 2015-16 Preseason All-NCHC Team, which was released today. The remaining selections included University of Denver forwards forwards Danton Heinen and Trevor Moore, University of North Dakota forward Drake Caggiula and Miami University Matthew Caito.

Welinski, who was the top-vote getter (22 of a possible 30 votes), will captain the Bulldogs in 2015-16 after handling an assistant role one year ago.  As a junior, the former Duluth East High School standout established career bests for goals (nine -- a number bettered by only one other NCHC blueliner), points (21), plus-minus (+2) and appearances (40) en route to securing a spot on the All-NCHC second team. Welinski, who has yet to miss a game as a Bulldog (114 in all), also generated the second most shots (100) of any league defensman and was one of just five NCHC point men to score shorthanded. In addition, he has reigned as UMD's top scoring blueliner in each of the three previous seasons and will head into his senior year with 58 lifetime points (18 goals and 40 assists) to his credit.

Kaskisuo, a native of Vantaa, Finland, was chosen to the National Collegiate Hockey Conference All-Rookie Team after ranking second among the nation's freshmen goalies in victories (18), fourth in winning percentage (.557 off an 18-14-3 record), fifth in goals against average (2.30) and seventh in saves percentage (.917). In addition, both his goals against average and save percentage were the third best single-season marks in program history. One of just two individuals to see crease time in all of his team's 24 league outings last season (North Dakota's Zane McIntyre was the other), Kaskisuo also shared the NCAA rookie lead for netminding starts and appearances (each 36).  The reigning UMD Most Valuable Player award recipient backstopped the Bulldogs to the NCAA I Northeast Regional finals and had one shutout (a 3-0 gem at the University of Minnesota on Nov. 14) to his 2014-15 credit.

Bulldog senior center Tony Cameranesi, senior left winger Austin Farley, junior center Dominic Toninato and junior defenseman Carson Soucy all received votes.