September 29, 2005
Mercyhurst, Holy Cross Top Atlantic Hockey Poll

Atlantic Hockey Preseason Poll

Coaches Poll t-1. Mercyhurst (4), 59 t-1. Holy Cross (3), 59 3. Sacred Heart (1), 49 4. Canisius, 40 5. Connecticut, 29 6. Bentley, 23 7. Army, 18 8. American International, 11

First place votes in parentheses, followed by total points.

Atlantic Hockey's last two NCAA Tournament representatives are co-favorites to win the league according to the league coaches.

Mercyhurst and Holy Cross share the top spot in the league's preseason poll. Each had 59 points in the voting, although the Lakers earned one more first-place vote; the other first-place vote went to Sacred Heart, which stands third in the poll.

Rounding out the top five are the Canisius College Golden Griffins (40 points) and the University of Connecticut Huskies (29 points).

The Bentley College Falcons (23 points), Army Black Knights (18 points) and American International Yellow Jackets (11 points) were picked in positions six through eight by the leagues coaches.

Atlantic Hockey, which lost Quinnipiac among its members this season, will expand to 10 teams in 2006-07 with the addition of RIT and Air Force.