2017-18 CCC Men's Ice Hockey Preseason Poll Video
SPRINGFIELD, Mass. – After claiming the inaugural Commonwealth Coast Conference Men's Ice Hockey Tournament Championship last season, Endicott was picked to repeat as champions in 2017-18.
The Gulls earned 99 points and nine of a possible 10 first-place votes in this year's preseason coaches' poll, which was completed last week by the league's 10 men's ice hockey head coaches.
The University of New England, last year's CCC Tournament runner-up, was picked second in the poll. The Nor'easters, who advanced to the CCC Championship as the No. 5 seed, gathered 85 points in the poll. Salve Regina will come into this year slotted in the No. 3 spot. The Seahawks received 78 points and the only remaining first-place vote.
Nichols and Curry landed in the fourth and fifth spots, respectively, with the Bison earning 74 points and the Colonels receiving 55.
Wentworth and Johnson and Wales tied for the sixth spot in the poll with 35 points apiece, while Western New England (32 points), Suffolk (30), and Becker (27) rounded out the table.
With the loss of just two seniors from last season's team, the Wentworth Institute of Technology ice hockey team looks to make a return trip to the postseason after missing the CCC Tournament a season ago. Despite missing out on the postseason, the youthful Leopards were in numerous close games, as 10 of their losses were by a total of 14 goals, including dropping six games by a single goal. With last season behind them, fourth-year head coach Jay Pecora welcomes back four of his top five scorers including junior Angus Johnston (Calgary, Alta.) who tied senior Jake McDonough (Marshfield, Mass.) for the team lead with 13 points. Johnston had five goals and eight assists while McDonough added a team-high eight goals and five assists for 13 points. Junior Matthew Kennedy (Mount Peal, N.L.) had four goals and eight assists for 12 points as a sophomore, while junior Paul Filippone III (Cranston, R.I.) chipped in with 10 points (four goals, six assists) a season ago. All three netminders are expected to return for the Leopards, including sophomore Kenny Graham (Milton, Mass.) who had a 2.89 goals against average and a .905 save percentage.
The Leopards open the 2017-2018 season at UMass Boston on Friday, October 27 and have their home opener a day later (October 28) against Castleton.
For the latest on Wentworth Athletics, follow the Leopards via social media on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. Fans can also download the Wentworth Leopards "Front Row" mobile app, powered by PrestoSports, on iTunes and the Android Market.
March 26, 2018
Hockey Set To Team Up With St. Baldrick's Foundation
February 17, 2018
Hockey's Comeback Falls Short in CCC Quarterfinals
February 11, 2018
Hockey Seeded Sixth in CCC Tournament
February 10, 2018
Hockey Falls to Curry in Regular-Season Finale
February 9, 2018
Curry Snaps Hockey's Win Streak
February 3, 2018
Hockey Goes on the Offensive in Win Over Becker
February 2, 2018
Hockey Uses Four-Goal Third Period to Rally Past Becker
January 25, 2018
Third Period Comeback Lifts Hockey Over Western New England
January 20, 2018
UNE Holds Off Hockey's Rally
January 19, 2018
Hockey Falls Short to No. 12 UNE
January 13, 2018
Late Goal Lifts Fitchburg State Past Hockey
January 6, 2018
Rookies Help Hockey Edge Saint Anselm
January 5, 2018
Plymouth State Edges Hockey in Second Semester Opener
December 9, 2017
Hockey Wraps up First Semester With Loss at Suffolk
December 8, 2017
Hockey Nets Two in Second Period to Edge Suffolk
December 4, 2017
Graham Earns CCC Goaltender of the Week Honors
December 2, 2017
Hockey Ties at Salve Regina
December 1, 2017
Hockey Skates to Tie With Salve Regina
November 26, 2017
Hockey Holds on to Edge Southern Maine
November 25, 2017
Fast Start Lifts New England College Past Hockey
November 18, 2017
Hockey Sees Unbeaten Streak Snapped With Loss to Nichols
November 17, 2017
Hockey Rallies to Tie Nichols
November 11, 2017
Hockey Rallies Past Johnson & Wales for Second Straight Win
November 4, 2017
Endicott Pulls Away from Hockey
November 2, 2017
Hockey Foiled by Late Endicott Goal
October 28, 2017
Castleton Skates Past Hockey in Home Opener
October 27, 2017
Hockey Falls to UMass Boston in Season Opener
October 18, 2017
Hockey Picked to Finish Sixth in CCC Preseason Poll