PROVIDENCE, R.I. – The Plymouth State University men's ice hockey team earned six first-place votes to finish as the favorite in the inaugural season of Little East Conference (LEC) men's ice hockey, as the league released its Preseason Coaches' Poll on Friday.
 
Plymouth State finished with 76 points to lead the poll. Norwich (73 points) and Babson (70 points) each collected two first-place votes to round out the top three, while UMass Boston (53) and New England College (47) were fourth and fifth, respectively.
 
Head coach Craig Russell enters his 16th season at the helm. Under his direction, the Panthers have captured eight straight MASCAC regular season titles and narrowly missed a third consecutive 20-win campaign last winter, finishing 19-7-0.
 
Senior Will Redick (Collingwood, Ontario) has been a standout each of the past three seasons. The program's second All-American, Redick earned All-MASCAC First Team and New England Hockey Writers Association Division II-III All-Star honors last winter after leading the league in goals despite playing four fewer games than the other top six scorers. He ranks third in program history in career points (123) and fifth in career goals (55).
 
Senior Brendan Doyle (Stratham, N.H.) provides PSU with a dynamic one-two scoring punch. He made an immediate impact after transferring from Johnson & Wales last year, finishing with 14 goals, 24 points, and a +15 rating.
 
The Panthers' defense is anchored by a pair of MASCAC All-Stars – senior Rider McCallum (Langley, British Columbia) and junior Severi Sulonen (Turku, Finland). Senior Brandon Shantz (San Antonio, Texas) was outstanding in goal last winter, posting a 1.89 goals-against average and .927 save percentage last year.
 
Plymouth State opens the season at home against #9 University of New England on Oct. 31 (6 p.m.). PSU begins conference play at Norwich on Nov. 7, then hosts UMass Dartmouth in the first home league game on Nov. 14 (6 p.m.).