Fitchburg State Ranked Third In Pre-Season Coaches Poll

Falcons collect 22 points in MASCAC coaches' poll

FITCHBURG, MASS. – The Fitchburg State ice hockey team was recently selected third in the MASCAC Pre-Season Coaches Poll as selected by the league coaches on Wednesday afternoon.

The Panthers of Plymouth State University were selected as the pre-season pick to repeat as the 2015-16 MASCAC Ice Hockey champions after claiming both the regular season and conference post-season titles last winter. Plymouth State collected six first place votes to amass 36 points in this year's poll, as the Panthers topped second place Salem State's total of 30 points.

Fitchburg State and UMass Dartmouth followed in third place with 22 points each, while Westfield State finished in fifth place with 20 points. Worcester State placed sixth with a total of 11 points, while Framingham State rounded out this year's poll in seventh place with a total of six points.

The Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference, the nation's oldest Division III men's and women's playing conference, has a rich and storied tradition of competitive success while celebrating excellence in the classroom. MASCAC member schools include Bridgewater State University, Fitchburg State University, Framingham State University, MCLA, Massachusetts Maritime Academy, Salem State University, Westfield State University and Worcester State University. Two other institutions, the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth and Plymouth State University, are affiliate members of the conference in the sports of football and men's ice hockey, while Western Connecticut State University joined the conference as an affiliate member in football beginning in 2013-14.