UTICA, N.Y. – The Utica College men’s hockey team was selected to finish second in the 2016 ECAC Men’s West Preseason Poll released Friday. The Pioneers earned 55 total votes and two first place votes, just six votes behind first place Hobart College.
Neumann University earned 46 votes and was selected to finish third, followed by Manhattanville (46), Nazareth (26), Elmira (26) and conference newcomers Stevenson and Lebanon Valley.
Last season, the Pioneers made their fourth ECAC West Conference tournament championship game appearance in the 15 year history of the program and closed out their year with a 14-10-4 overall record.
The Pioneers home schedule features 14 regular season home contests. UC’s regular season opens up on the road Friday, Oct. 28th when the Pioneers travel to Fredonia to take on the Blue Devils at 7 p.m. UC returns to action the following night for its home opener on Saturday, Oct. 29th when it takes on Plymouth State at 7 p.m.
The 12th annual New York Sash Teddy Bear Toss is scheduled for Dec. 17th as the Pioneers host Morrisville State at 7 p.m. In the last 11 years nearly 30,000 stuffed animals have been collected through the New York Sash Teddy Bear Toss.
On March 24-25, 2016 Utica College and the City of Utica will proudly host the NCAA Division III Men’s Hockey Championships at the Aud for the first time in program history.
The Utica men’s hockey team led the nation in home attendance for the tenth consecutive season last year. In 15 home dates, 52,738 fans came through the turnstiles at the Utica Memorial Auditorium. Utica’s average home attendance of 3,516 fans per game ranked 23rd nationally at all levels of NCAA hockey (DI-DIII).
Individual game tickets are also now on sale at the AUD ticket office or online at http://empirestatetix.com/. Individual game tickets are $8 for adults and $4 for non-Utica College students. Online ticket purchases will incur a $3.50 processing fee per ticket.
2016 ECAC Men’s West Preseason Poll (First-Place Votes)
1. Hobart College – 58 (4)
2. Utica College – 55 (2)
3. Neumann University – 46 (2)
4. Manhattanville College – 44
T5. Nazareth College – 26
T5. Elmira College – 26
7. Stevenson University – 21
8. Lebanon Valley College – 12
