COLORADO SPRINGS – The Niagara University hockey team is receiving votes in the Preseason USA Today/American Hockey Magazine College Hockey Poll released Monday.
The Purple Eagles earned 12 points and sit 20th in the nation after the Purps finished last season ranked 14th. The University of Massachusetts—Lowell earned 20 of 34 first-place votes and 484 points to hold the top spot in the poll.
Ranked second is Miami University with 444 points and nine first-place votes, while the University of Wisconsin (364), Boston College (359) and the University of Minnesota (347) round out the top five schools.
Three of the school earning a spot on the top-15 poll or receiving points appear on the Purple Eagles’ 2013-14 schedule. Niagara will face No. 10 University of Michigan (Nov. 22), while competing against the University of Denver (Oct. 25) and Cornell (Nov. 26) who received, 74 and 32 points, respectively.
The 19th annual USA Today/USA Hockey Magazine Men’s College Hockey Poll is conducted each week in conjunction with the American Hockey Coaches Association. The poll includes input from coaches and journalists representing each of the six NCAA Division I ice hockey conferences, as well as composite votes from officers of the AHCA and USA Hockey.
Niagara opens its season with a two-game tilt at Dwyer Arena against the Clarkson Golden Knights beginning onSaturday, Oct. 5 at 7 p.m. and wrapping up the following day at 2 p.m.
To purchase tickets, contact the Niagara Athletic Ticket Office at 716-286-TIXX (8499) or visit www.PurpleEagles.com/Tickets.
