Moon Township, Pa. ? According to a poll by the head coaches of College Hockey America (CHA), the Robert Morris University men's hockey team has been tabbed to finish third in the conference for the 2008-09 season.
“This season we added 15 new players to our hockey program, we expected to be picked in the lower half of the CHA this year,” said head coach Derek Schooley. “We have had an excellent preseason and we will see where we stand when we take on Ryerson this weekend.”
Leading the pack with three of four first place votes and nine points was Niagara, who last year won the CHA Tournament and earned an automatic bid to the NCAA tournament. Last year's regular season champions, Bemidji State, garnered the second most votes with seven points. Finishing deadlocked with four points each were Robert Morris and Alabama-Huntsville.
Also, senior forward Chris Margott (Thousand Oaks, Calif. / Bay State Breakers) was named to the Preseason All-CHA team after his performance last season. Margott returns this year after finishing third in the league in scoring with 18 goals and 26 assists for a total of 44 points.
"Chris is an offensive leader for this hockey team and had a great 07-08 season," said Schooley. "He came back to campus in the best shape he has ever been in so it is now up to him to carry last year into this season. We expect big things."
Joining Margott on the Preseason All-CHA team is Niagara senior forward Vince Rocco has been selected as the 2008 CHA Preseason Player of the Year. A unanimous selection to the 2008 All-CHA first team, Rocco is the leading returning scorer in the conference having scored 14 goals and 32 assists in the 2007-08 season. Rounding out the Preseason All-CHA team are Bemidji State forwards Matt Read and Tyler Scofield.
The Colonials will start the 2008-09 season on Sunday, October 5 in an exhibition game against Ryerson. Last year, Robert Morris faced Ryerson for the first time and won the matchup with an 8-5 decision. The game will be played at the Robert Morris Island Sports Center at 4:05 p.m.
2008 CHA Preseason Coaches Poll
School (Points)
1. Niagara (9)
2. Bemidji State (7)
3. (tie) Robert Morris (4)
3. Alabama-Huntsville (4)
