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<<Men’s ECACHL Preseason Polls Released
Cornell  Unanimous Choice
 
ALBANY, N.Y. -- The Cornell Big Red has been selected by both the coaches  
and media as the unanimous No. 1 team in this year's ECAC Hockey League men’s  
preseason polls. It marks the first time since the 1996-97 season that the head 
 coaches have had a unanimous choice and the first-time ever in the 
seven-year  history of the media poll. Both polls were released today (Sept. 20, 2005) 
as  part of the league’s annual media day event. 
 
The next four positions in the coaches voting were tight, with just eight  
points separating second through fifth. In fact, Dartmouth sits just one point  
ahead of Harvard to earn second place with 94 points. The Crimson, which was  
second overall last year, garnered 93 points and was followed by St. Lawrence  
with 89 and Colgate with 86. Brown wrapped up the top half with 80 points. 
The  second half has Clarkson seventh with 64 points, followed by Union with 51, 
 Rensselaer with 39, Princeton with 32, Yale with 28 and Quinnipiac with 15. 
 
In the media poll, Cornell garnered all 21 first-place votes, scoring 252  
points. It is the second time the media have selected the Big Red to finish  
first, the last time came in 2002-03, when the team went on to win the league  
title and play in the NCAA Frozen Four. 
 
The media poll was also a close one for the next few positions, with just  10 
points between second-place Colgate (197 points) and fourth-place Harvard  
(187). Dartmouth sits between the two, taking third with 191 points. St.  
Lawrence was picked fifth by the media, followed by Brown (159), Clarkson (134),  
Rensselaer and Union (89 each), Princeton (73), Yale (60) and Quinnipiac (36). 
 
Cornell (27-5-3 overall, 18-2-2 ECACHL) enters the season with 14 returning  
letter winners, including All-Americans Matt Moulson and David McKee. The duo  
helped lead the Big Red to a first-place finish in the regular-season 
standings  and the program's 11th ECACHL tournament title. The Big Red went on to 
finish  one game out of its second NCAA Frozen Four in three years. 
 
Dartmouth (20-13-2; 14-8-0) finished fifth in the standings last year and  
just missed out on making the NCAA tournament. Led by five seniors, the team has 
 the experience and depth to challenge for the league title and earn a bid to 
the  NCAAs. 
 
The Harvard Crimson (21-10-3; 15-5-2) finished last season in second place  
and earned its fourth-straight trip to the NCAA tourney. While a large senior  
class graduated, 20 letter winners return, including five of its top seven  
scorers. 
 
Colgate (25-11-3; 14-5-3) opens the 2004-05 season after finishing third in  
the league and with a trip to the national tournament. The Raiders also turned 
 in back-to-back 20-win seasons for the first time in program history. 
 
Although the preseason predictions are in, if this year plays out like  those 
in the recent past, there will be a battle for every position in the  
standings, making it another exciting ECAC Hockey League season. 
 
Preseason Coaches Poll
1. Cornell (11) 121
2. Dartmouth (1) 94
3.  Harvard 93
4. St. Lawrence 89
5. Colgate 86
6. Brown 80
7. Clarkson  64
8. Union 51
9. Rensselaer 39
10. Princeton 32
11. Yale 28
12.  Quinnipiac 15  
 
Preseason Media Poll
1. Cornell (21) 252
2. Colgate 197
3.  Dartmouth 191
4. Harvard 187
5. St. Lawrence 167
6. Brown 159
7.  Clarkson 134
8. Rensselaer 89
Union 89
10. Princeton 73
11. Yale  60
12. Quinnipiac 36  
 
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