Men's Ice Hockey Picked Fourth in MASCAC Pre-Season Poll

WESTFIELD, Mass. --  Salem State was picked fourth in the Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference pre-season poll, receiving 18 points in a vote by the league's coaches. Plymouth State was picked first after receiving five first place votes. 

 

Tied in the fourth spot with UMass Dartmouth, the Vikings had six wins in league action throughout last season. The team will look to Callum Hofford who scored seven goals and added 10 assists for 17 points last season. He was sixth among defenseman scoring in the conference. For the Corsairs, they finished with seven wins last season during conference play. Returning is the 2017-18 Player of the Year Jonathan Ruiz who led the league in goals scored with 27 and power play goals with 13. He also collected 18 assists and two game-winning goals on the year.

  

The Panthers earned five of the seven first place votes for 35 points. They finished last season 15-2-1 in the league on their way to the MASCAC regular season title. All-Conference honoree Ryan Stevens returns after finishing fifth in the league in total points with 37 in 10 goals and 27 assists. His total assists were second best in the conference, averaging 1.08 per game.  

 

Earning the final two first place votes for 31 points is Fitchburg State. The Falcons claimed the 2017-18 MASCAC Tournament Championship and finished the season with an 11-4-3 mark in league action. Last season Sascha Figi tallied 21 goals and 19 assists for 40 points and lead all freshman in scoring to earn not only a spot on the All-Conference team, but the 2017-18 MASCAC Rookie of the Year honors.

 

Sitting next in third with 27 points is Worcester State. The Lancers were 8-8-2 during MASCAC play last season. All-Conference honoree Mike Moran is back after netting 16 goals and 16 assists for 32 points last season and finishing fourth in the conference in total goals scored.

 

Rounding out the 2018-19 preseason poll are Westfield State and Framingham State in sixth and seventh, respectively. The Owls claimed 12 points in the poll and tallied eight wins during league action. Aaron Clancy returns after netting 14 goals and 12 assists for 26 points. He led the conference in game-winning goals with four. The Rams earned six points in the poll and had two league wins last season. In his first year with the team, Matthew Siegel netted six goals and seven assists for 13 points and was tied in fifth with teammate Ryan Paul who had five goals and eight assists for freshman scoring in the MASCAC. 

 

Fitchburg State, Plymouth State, Westfield State and Worcester State begin their season this weekend with non-conference play while Framingham State, Salem State and UMass Dartmouth begin next week. 

 

2018-19 MASCAC Men's Ice Hockey Pre-Season Coaches Poll
(First Place Votes In Parentheses)

1.	Plymouth State	(5)	35 points
2.	Fitchburg State	(2)	31 points
3.	Worcester State		27 points
4.	Salem State		18 points
	UMass Dartmouth		18 points
6.	Westfield State		12 points
7.	Framingham State		6 points