Senior forward and captain Noah Cates has been named to the National Collegiate Hockey Conference's (NCHC) Preseason All-Conference Team, the league office announced on Tuesday afternoon. For Cates, it's the second straight season that he's garnered the distinction. 
 
Cates, a native of Stillwater, Minn., tallied five goals and 14 assists for 19 points over 28 games last season. In addition to helping UMD to their fourth consecutive Frozen Four appearance, Cates earned Second Team All-NCHC honors during the 2020-21 season. For his UMD career, Cates has posted 28 goals and 47 assists for 75 points. Last month, the team announced that Cates would serve as team captain for a second consecutive season. 
 
Media members from around the NCHC voted for three forwards, two defensemen and one goaltender with each vote being worth one point. Cates finished second in forward voting with 18 total votes. Cates joins Veeti Miettinen, Chayse Primeau, Ronnie Attard, Nick Perbix, Jake Sanderson, and Ludvig Persson on the Preseason All-Conference Team. Only St. Cloud State's Miettinen received more votes (22 votes) than Cates for the first forward slot. In this season preseason selection, three defensemen were named as there was a tie for the second defenseman spot. 
 
Cates and the Bulldogs will open their season on the road at Bemidji State on Friday, October 8.