Balisy, DeKesyer and Slubowski Named Preseason First Team All-CCHA

FARMINGTON HILLS, Mich. -- Western Michigan hockey's Chase Balisy, Dan DeKeyser and Frank Slubowski were named Preseason First Team All-Central Collegiate Hockey Association as voted on by the league's coaches and announced by the CCHA on Tuesday after noon.

It is only the second-ever time since the league started releasing preseason all-conference lists back in 2004 that a Bronco has made First Team. WMU has never had three players named Preseason All-CCHA until this season. DeKeyser, a Second Team All-American, Second Team All-CCHA selection and last year's CCHA's Best Defensive Defenseman, received the second-most votes out of any player other than Notre Dame's T.J. Tynan.

Balisy was named to the preseason second team last year and led the Broncos in points with 37 and assists with 24. He had seven goals and 14 assists in CCHA play last season and has 67 points in his two seasons at Western Michigan.

Slubowski enters his second season after being named to the CCHA All-Rookie team last season. He manned the pipes for Western Michigan in their first CCHA Tournament Championship since 1986 and was named the CCHA Tournament MVP. Slubowski set a single-season goals against record after allowing just 2.03.

The Broncos open up the 2012-13 season with an exhibition game on Saturday against Western Ontario at 7 p.m. No tickets are required and it is free to the public.