ROCHESTER, N.Y.-The William Smith College ice hockey team was picked to finish second in the United Collegiate Hockey Conference Preseason Poll. The Herons received 83 points in this year’s poll.
Defending conference champion and national runner-up Elmira was unanimously predicted to be the top team in the conference, receiving 100 points and all 10 first place votes. Utica was picked to finish third, four points behind William Smith. Stevenson, Manhattanville, and Neumann round out the projected playoff field. Chatham, new league member Nazareth, Lebanon Valley, and King’s were picked to finish seventh through 10th, respectively.
The Herons are coming off a program record 16-win season in 2017-18. William Smith advanced to the semifinals of the UCHC tournament where they were defeated by Stevenson in overtime. The Herons finished the season with a 16-6-4 overall record and an 11-2-3 mark in UCHC play. William Smith was the only conference team to take the Soaring Eagles to overtime last season. The Herons return four of their top-six point scorers from last year’s team. Junior Gina Scibetta was second on the team in ’17-18 with 26 points on 11 goals and 15 assists. Senior Stephanie Hampton was right behind her with 23 points (11g, 12a).
William Smith begins its 2018-19 season on Friday. The Herons open their slate with a pair of non-conference games in Newport, R.I., at Salve Regina. William Smith will open conference play at The Cooler on Nov. 9 against Stevenson.
