ROCHESTER, N.Y.- The William Smith College ice hockey team was picked to finish fifth in the inaugural United Collegiate Hockey Conference (UCHC) Preseason Poll. The Herons, who received 40 points, join the UCHC after playing three years in the ECAC West.
Two former ECAC West schools, Elmira and Utica, occupy the first and second slot in the preseason poll. The Soaring Eagles were unanimously predicted to be the top team, receiving 72 points with eight of a possible eight first place votes. The Pioneers were second with 61 points. Manhattanville, which joins the new league from the New England Hockey Conference, was predicted to finish third. Stevenson came in right ahead of the Herons in fourth place with 45 points. Neumann, Chatham, King’s and Lebanon Valley round out the poll.
Last year, William Smith was 7-12-6 overall and 4-9-5 in conference play. The Herons will look to senior captains Rebecca Begley, Krista Federow and Catherine Linehan for leadership and experience as the fourth-year program continues to build. Begley and Federow are the only two William Smith players to have played in all 75 games of the Herons’ varsity existence and fittingly are 1-2 in career points. Federow has 56 points (28g, 28a) while Begley has 33 points (13g, 20a). Linehan has played in 70 career games and tallied 20 points (10g, 10a). In goal, William Smith will rely on the solid play of 2017 ECAC West Defensive Player of the Year, senior Maggie Salmon. She has played in 47 career games and has compiled a 2.95 goals against average and a .927 save percentage.
William Smith begins its 2017-18 season in 16 days. The Herons open their slate with a pair of non-conference games against Salve Regina at The Cooler Oct. 27-28. Faceoff in the season opener is scheduled for 7 p.m. William Smith will open up its UCHC schedule against the Mustangs Nov. 10-11, in Stevenson, Md.
