FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Saint Anselm Defeated Saint Michael's for 2023 NE10 Title.
MANSFIELD, Mass. – Saint Anselm, the reigning Northeast-10 Conference champion, has been selected as the league's frontrunner according to the 2023-24 NE10 Coaches' Poll - which was announced by the conference office on Friday afternoon.
The Hawks claimed the top spot in the poll with 24 points and four first-place votes, while Saint Michael's - the 2023 NE10 finalist - came in second with 18 points and two first-place votes. Assumption and Southern New Hampshire tied for third with 16 points, while Post (9 points) and Franklin Pierce (7 points) rounded-out the poll.
Saint Anselm went 21-10-3 last season, including 13-5-2 in conference play which led it to capturing the NE10 regular season title. Head coach Larry Rocha led his program to its 11th NE10 Championship in program history and its first since the 2017-18 season with a 5-1 win over Saint Michael's. Rocha was named the Lance "Duke" Brady Coach of the Year by his fellow NE10 coaches.
Saint Michael's went 12-7-1 in conference play last season, earning the No. 2 seed in the NE10 Ice Hockey Championship. This season, the Purple Knights will be led by Marshall Murphy, the reigning NE10 Goaltender of the Year - as well as All-Conference selections Zach Taylor and Gabriel Gagnon.
The NE10 continues to be competitively balanced, as four different ice hockey programs have won each of the past four league championships. Saint Anselm was the last program to repeat as NE10 champion in the 2011-12 and 2012-13 seasons - part of four-straight titles for the Hawks (2010-13).
The regular season is scheduled to begin on Friday, Oct. 27. The NE10 Championship is scheduled for March 2 at the highest remaining seed, with the semifinals on February 24. For the full schedule, please click HERE.
NE10 ICE HOCKEY COACHES' POLL
1. Saint Anselm - 24 (4)
2. Saint Michael's - 18 (2)
3. Assumption - 16
3. Southern New Hampshire - 16
5. Post - 9
6. Franklin Pierce - 7
ABOUT THE NE10
The NE10 is an association of 12 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.
