FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

October 27, 2016

Nine-Time NE-10 Champ Saint Anselm Tabbed First in Hockey Poll

MANSFIELD, Mass. – The Saint Anselm Hawks have been projected to win the NE-10 Ice Hockey Championship by the conference’s head coaches, as the league office released the 2016-17 NE-10 Ice Hockey Preseason Coaches’ Poll on Thursday.

For complete results of the poll, which is voted upon by the league's head coaches, please see below.

Saint Anselm claimed the top spot in the poll with a total of 25 points and five first-place votes. The nine-time NE-10 Champions finished second in the conference standings a year ago after posting a 4-1 mark in league play and 12-11-3 overall. Reigning NE-10 Goalkeeper of the Year Shane Joyce is slated to return between the pipes for the Hawks along with last year’s NE-10 Defender of the Year Peter Sikalis.

Assumption took the second spot in the poll with 16 total points. Saint Michael’s, which brings back two-time all-conference defenseman Danny Divis, was tabbed third with 15 points while picking up the other vote for first place. Southern New Hampshire and defending NE-10 Champion Stonehill tied for the fourth spot with 14 points apiece, while Franklin Pierce rounded out the poll with six points.

The 2016-17 season kicks off on Oct. 28 with the first NE-10 contest scheduled for Nov. 4. The 2017 NE-10 Ice Hockey Championship will begin with semifinal contests on Feb. 18. The NE-10 title game is set for Saturday, Feb. 25.

2016-17 NE-10 Ice Hockey Preseason Coaches’ Poll
1. Saint Anselm - 25 Pts. (5)
2. Assumption - 16
3. Saint Michael’s - 15 (1)
t-4. So. New Hampshire - 14
t-4. Stonehill - 14
6. Franklin Pierce - 6 

(#) - indicates first-place votes

ABOUT THE NORTHEAST-10
The Northeast-10 Conference is an association of 15 NCAA Division II colleges and universities located in New England and New York that is committed to supporting balanced academic and athletic opportunities for more than 6,500 student-athletes. 

Each year, 4,500 of those student-athletes compete in conference championships in 24 sports, making the NE-10 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 Northeast-10 is proud of its comprehensive program and the experience it provides student-athletes.