ECAC Mens East Preseason Coaches Poll Released
CENTERVILLE, Mass. - Norwich University has been selected as the No. 1 team in the 2011-12 Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) Men’s East Ice Hockey preseason coaches’ poll. The Cadets finished with 99 points and nine first- place votes.
The defending ECAC Men’s East Champions and NCAA Division III national runner-up completed the 2010-11 season with a 22-6-3 overall record and a league markof 15-1-3 helping convince voters as the team to beat in the conference. The Cadets are returning First Team All-ECAC East forward Scott Schroeder (Drake, Saskatchewan/Humbolt Broncos) who tied for the team scoring lead 20 goals and 19 assists for 39 points. Also back is the ECAC Men’s East Rookie of the Year, Travis Janke (Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan/Notre Dame Hounds), who scored 12 goals and 27 assists for 39 points in the 2010-11 season.
Securing the second spot is Castleton State College, with 88 points. With the help of ECAC Men’s East Coach of the Year Alex Todd, Castleton went 22-4-1 overall (15-3-1 league) in 2010-11. First Team All-ECAC East and the ECAC Men’s East Player of the Year Josh Harris (Torrance, California/Breakers), who scored 16 goals and 34 assists for a 50-point season, is back to lead the Spartan offense. Second Team All-ECAC East goalie Erik Cinotti (Mahwah, New Jersey/Wichita Falls), who had a .919 save percentage last season, returns to help bolster the defense.
Babson College earns the No.3 spot, with 80 points and one first-place vote. With an 11-14-3 overall record and 7-9-3 league ledger last year, Babson finished fifth. The Beavers were the ECAC Men’s East Championship runner-up after losing to Norwich, 3-2, in overtime. Babson brings back Second Team All-ECAC East defenseman Ryan Heavey (Andover, Mass./Choate Rosemary Hall), who scored five goals and 16 assists for 21 points, and was third on the team in scoring.
Skidmore College takes the No.4 position after a 9-14-3 overall record and an 8-8-3 league slate in the 2010-11 season. The ECAC Men’s East Goalie of the Year and First Team All-ECAC East performer Colin Bessey (Montclair, New Jersey/Trinity Pawling), who boasted a .904 save percentage last season, returns along with First Team All-ECAC East defenseman Nick Dupuis (Holyoke, Mass./Springfield Falcons), who led the team with nine goals and 16 assists for 25 points.
Rounding out the top five is UMass Boston after a 15-11-0 overall record (10-9-0 league). In sixth place is Saint Anselm College and the University of Southern Maine takes seventh.
New England College, Saint Michael’s College and the University of New England complete the poll as the coaches voted the teams into the eighth, ninth and 10th spots, respectively.
The ECAC Men’s East league play will kick off on November 4th at 7:00 p.m. as Babson hosts New England College, Saint Anselm skates at UMass Boston, the University of New England plays Castleton, and Skidmore hosts Southern Maine.
| ECAC 2011-12 Men's East Preseason Coaches Poll | ||
| No. | Team | Total Points |
| 1. | Norwich (9) | 99 |
| 2. | Castleton | 88 |
| 3. | Babson (1) | 80 |
| 4. | Skidmore | 64 |
| 5. | UMass - Boston | 55 |
| 6. | Saint Anselm | 52 |
| 7. | Southern Maine | 40 |
| 8. | New England College | 36 |
| 9. | Saint Michael's | 20 |
| 10. | University of New England | 16 |
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(First Place Votes in Parentheses) |
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