Sacred Heart picked fifth in Atlantic Hockey poll

The Sacred Heart men were picked fifth in the Atlantic Hockey preseason coaches poll, the conference announced Tuesday.

Three-time defending regular-season champion American International received first-place votes from each of the other nine coaches, who could not include their own teams on their ballots; Canisius, which got the AIC firstplace vote, finished second with 72 points, 18 behind AIC, followed by Army with 69 and RIT with 64. Sacred Heart received 63.

Army senior forward Colin Bilek was chosen Preseason Player of the Year. Pioneers defenseman Connor Hutchison was among others receiving votes for Preseason Rookie of the Year, which went to Niagara goalie Jake Sibell.

Sophomore forward Braeden Tuck was among those receiving votes for the allconference team.

The Pioneers open the season Oct. 2 at the XL Center in Hartford against UConn. Their home opener is Oct. 29 against Niagara at Bridgeport’s Webster Bank Arena.

Brian A. Pounds / Hearst Connecticut Media Sacred Heart celebrates after Quinnipiac 4-1 in the championship game of the Connecticut Ice tournament at Webster Bank Arena in Bridgeport on Jan. 26, 2020. The Pioneers were picked fifth in the preseason Atlantic Hockey poll.