Holy Cross narrowly edged out Canisius and Connecticut in the inaugural preseason poll in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference’s newly-formed ice hockey league. All eight of the MAAC’s head hockey coaches participated in the poll.
Holy Cross returns 22 letterwinners from last year’s squad, which finished with a 16-8-2 record, its best in 15 years. Head coach Paul Pearl led the team to a third-place ECAC East finish.
Quinnipiac forward Chris Cerrella was chosen the MAAC preseason Player of the Year, after finishing second in Division II scoring last year with 32 goals and 34 assists for 66 points in 23 games. It was Cerrella’s freshman season.
Cerrella set school records for most assists and most points in a season, and was named a second-team Sports Information Directors’ Division II All-America. He also was named the MVP of the second annual Quinnipiac Cup after tallying four goals and two assists in two games versus Iona and Fairfield.
