Syracuse received five first-place votes in the annual CHA preseason coaches poll, which was released Monday, and was deemed the top team heading into the 2016-17 season.
Mercyhurst garnered the other first-place vote and is slotted second in the poll.
| School (First-place votes) | Total points |
|---|---|
| 1. Syracuse (5) | 25 |
| 2. Mercyhurst (1) | 20 |
| 3. Robert Morris | 16 |
| 4. Penn State | 15 |
| 5 (tie). RIT | 7 |
| 5 (tie). Lindenwood | 7 |
