PROVIDENCE, R.I. – The Plymouth State University men's ice hockey team was picked to finish third as the Little East Conference (LEC) released its Preseason Coaches' Poll on Tuesday.
 
Plymouth State earned 68 points, just two behind second-place Babson, which received 70 points and two first-place votes. Norwich earned eight first-place votes and 79 points to lead the poll after winning the inaugural LEC Tournament and advancing to the national quarterfinals last year.
 
UMass Boston (56), Southern Maine (49) and VTSU Castleton (41) rounded out the top six, while New England College (29), UMass Dartmouth (25), Keene State (24) and WestConn (9) completed the poll.
 
Head coach Craig Russell begins his 17th season at the helm. Under his direction, the Panthers have finished no lower than third in the conference standings and earned seven NCAA Tournament berths. Last winter, Russell's squad finished 15-11-1 overall and 11-6-1 in conference play to earn the third seed in the LEC Tournament. The Panthers defeated VTSU Castleton, 5-2, in the first round before falling to No. 13 Babson, 4-0, in the semifinals.
 
Sophomore Étienne Tremblay-Mathieu (Québec City, Québec), the reigning LEC Rookie of the Year and an All-LEC First Team and All-Rookie Team selection last season, returns after leading conference defensemen with 28 points. He also ranked among the league's top 10 in assists, assists per game and points per game.
 
Classmate Kim Hilmersson (Uppsala, Sweden) joined Tremblay-Mathieu on the All-Rookie Team after posting eight goals and 15 assists for 23 points and a +10 rating. Other key returners include sophomore Tucker Shedd (Holt, Mich.), junior Matt Hale (Center Harbor, N.H.), and seniors Severi Sulonen (Turku, Finland) and Patrick O'Connell (West Chester, Pa.). The group adds experience and leadership as the Panthers prepare for the upcoming season.
 
Plymouth State opens the season with consecutive home weekends, beginning with games against Curry College and Plattsburgh State on Oct. 30-31. Conference play begins Nov. 6-7 when Norwich and VTSU Castleton visit Hanaway Rink. The Norwich game will also serve as the annual Salute the Troops contest.