FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
MANSFIELD, Mass. - The Saint Michael’s Purple Knights have been projected to win the Northeast 10 Ice Hockey Championship by the conference’s head coaches, as the league office released the 2018-19 NE10 Ice Hockey Preseason Coaches’ Poll on Friday.
For the complete results of this year's poll, please see below.
Saint Michael’s claimed the top spot by garnering 24 points, including a league-high four first-place votes, after finishing as the 2017-18 NE10 runner-up. Reigning champion Saint Anselm received the other two first-place nods and finished with 21 points. The two programs met last season in the NE10 title game, with the Hawks mounting a third-period comeback on their way to a 6-5 overtime win in Manchester, N.H. – the 10thleague championship in program history.
The Purple Knights have won five NE10 titles and will look for their first league championship since the 2008-09 season, led by seventh-year head coach Damian DiGiulian.
Southern New Hampshire was close behind in third place with 17 points, while Assumption – the 2016-17 NE10 champion - came in at fourth with 12. Franklin Pierce and Stonehill tied for the final spot with eight points.
The 2018-19 season will culminate with the NE10 Championship at the higher seed’s rink on Saturday, March 2. The semifinals will take place the previous Saturday, February 23.
ABOUT THE NE10
The NE10 is an association of 15 diverse institutions serving student-athletes across 24 NCAA Division II sports. Together we build brilliant futures by embracing the journey of every student-athlete.
Each year, 4,500 of those student-athletes compete in conference championships in 24 sports, making the NE10 the largest DII conference in the country in terms of sport sponsorship. Leading the way in the classroom, on the field and within the community, the NE10 is proud of its comprehensive program and the experience it provides student-athletes.