HAVERHILL, Mass. – Niagara has been chosen as the preseason favorite to win the Atlantic Hockey regular-season title voted on by the AHA coaches and announced at the league’s annual media dayon Tuesday.
Niagara earned three (of 12) first-place votes and a total of 102 points. It marks the first time since joining the AHA that the Purple Eagles have been selected as the preseason favorite to win the conference crown.
Mercyhurst and Air Force were chosen to finish second with 98 points each, followed closely by Canisius with 92 points and RIT with 81 points. Connecticut (79), Robert Morris (66), Holy Cross (66), Bentley (53) and Army (28) followed the Golden Griffins, while American International and Sacred Heart rounded out the 12-team league with 22 points and 16 points, respectively.
Niagara won the AHA league regular-season title after finishing its conference schedule with a 20-5-2 record last winter. The title marked the program’s first AHA regular-season championship since joining the league in 2010-11 under head coach David Burkholder, and fourth overall. NU captured three regular-season titles as a member of the College Hockey America conference.
Burkholder and the Eagles return 17 lettermen from last year’s 23-win club.
Niagara begins its 18th season of Division I hockey at home against Clarkston on Oct. 5 at 7 p.m. To purchase tickets, contact the Niagara Athletic Ticket Office at 716-286-TIXX (8499) or visit www.PurpleEagles.com/Tickets.
