Utica, NY — The Utica College men’s hockey team is receiving 11 votes in the USCHO.com Division III Preseason National Poll released Monday. The Pioneers are currently sitting just three slots outside of the top 15.
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 (7 p.m.) for the ‘Parkway Drugs’ Home Opener at the Utica Memorial Auditorium.
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 the year with a 14-10-4 overall record.
Utica returns three of its top four scorers from last year’s squad in Anthony McVeigh (Kemptville, Ontario/Carleton Place (CCHL)), Hayden Dawes (Stony Plain, Alberta/Drayton Valley (AJHL)) and Kevin Valenti (Queensbury, NY/Northern Cyclones (EHL)). McVeigh capped his sophomore season with a team-high 19 points (seven goals, 12 assists). Dawes, the 2015-16 ECAC West Rookie of the Year, returns after registering a team-best ten goals last season. Valenti tied for the team lead with 12 assists one year ago.
