Buzzards Bay, Mass.— The Panthers of Plymouth State University are the pre-season pick to win the 2012-13 Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference Men’s Ice Hockey championship in a vote of the league’s coaches.

Plymouth State, while captured both the conference regular season and tournament titles last winter, collected six first place votes to amass 48 points in this year’s poll, as the Panthers topped second place Salem State’s total of 42 points that included the other first place vote. UMass Dartmouth followed in third place with 36 points, while Fitchburg State was next in fourth place with 25 points. Westfield State and Worcester State forged a tie for fifth place with 18 points each, while Framingham State rounded out this year’s poll in seventh place with nine 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 sport of men’s ice hockey.

　

2012-13 MASCAC Men’s Ice Hockey Pre-Season Coaches Poll

(First Place Votes In Parentheses)

1. Plymouth State (6) 48 points

2. Salem State (1) 42 points

3. UMass Dartmouth 36 points

4. Fitchburg State 25 points

5. Westfield State 18 points

Worcester State 18 points

7. Framingham State 9 points