Hobart Selected to Finish Atop ECAC Men's West Hockey League
DANBURY, Conn. – The Hobart College Statesmen have been selected to finish atop the ECAC Division III Men’s West Hockey League in 2016-17, as determined in a poll of the league’s head coaches announced Friday.
The Statesmen collected four first-place votes and three second-place nods to total 58 points. The two-time defending champions will look to key returners such as forward Nick Bingaman and defenseman Jon Neal to lead the way in defense of their league crown. Bingaman posted 23 points (eight goals, 15 assists) last season, while Neal had nine assists and a team-best plus-25 rating en route to earning All-ECAC Second Team honors.
Utica College finished in second in the poll with 55 points, earning two votes for first place and four second-place selections. The Pioneers return their top two scorers from last season in Anthony McVeigh (7-12—19) and 2015-16 Rookie of the Year Hayden Dawes (10-8—18) in their quest to secure a league title after coming up short in the championship game last year.
Neumann University totaled 46 points to finish in third in the poll. The Knights received two first-place nods in the voting, and will look to build on last year’s 15-win season in Head Coach Matt Tendler’s second season behind the bench. Manhattanville College was close behind Neumann in fourth place in the voting with 44 points.
Nazareth College and Elmira College finished tied for fifth in the poll with 26 points, while newcomers Stevenson University (21) and Lebanon Valley College (12) finished in seventh and eighth respectively.
The 2016-17 ECAC DIII Men’s West Hockey League season gets underway on Friday, Oct. 28.
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
ABOUT THE ECAC
In the 77 years since its inception, the Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) has emerged as the nation's largest Conference. The ECAC has grown considerably from its charter membership of 58, boasting hundreds of member schools in Divisions I, II and III, ranging in location from Maine to Georgia, and westerly to Missouri. For more information, visit
www.ecacsports.com.
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