Without having played its first game yet, Colorado College has claimed the No. 3 spot in both national polls released on Monday.

The Tigers, who open the season tonight with an exhibition contest at the World Arena against the University of Alberta, climbed from fifth to third in the second USA Today/USA Hockey Magazine rankings of the season.

They received four of a possible 34 first-place votes in that poll and seven of 50 in the one conducted by U.S. College Hockey Online. Boston College is No. 1 in both, followed by the University of Michigan, which received only five first-place votes in the USCHO poll.

Meanwhile, CC's Richard Bachman and Chad Rau were among only six players nationwide named to the 2008-09 Preseason All-CHN First Team by the College Hockey News. Sophomore goalie Bachman and senior center Rau both were All-Americans in 2007-08. 

Colorado College, defending regular-season champion in the WCHA, has been picked by the league's head coaches and media to repeat the feat in 2008-09.