Westfield, Mass. — The Plymouth State Panthers are the pre-season pick to win the 2013-14 Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference Men’s Ice Hockey championship in a vote of the league’s coaches.

Last year, the Panthers won the regular season crown with an 18-6-1 record before being upset in the conference tournament by UMass Dartmouth. They look to rebound this season without forward Alex Cottle and goalie Jack Astedt. Plymouth State finished with three first place votes good enough for 41 points.

Coming in only a few points behind is Westfield State who were the fourth seed going into last year’s tournament and received three of the first place votes. Last season’s tournament champion and regular season runner-up UMass Dartmouth rounds out the top three with 35 points.

Salem State nabbed the final first place vote and landed themselves in the four spot with 34 points. Fitchburg State was picked to finish fifth in conference with 25 points. Worcester State and Framingham State round out the list in sixth and seventh with 16 and eight points, respectively.

The puck drops this weekend with Fitchburg State, UMass Dartmouth, Plymouth State, Westfield State and Worcester State kicking off their 2013-2014 season.

MASCAC Men’s Ice Hockey Pre-Season Coaches Poll

(First Place Votes In Parentheses)

1. Plymouth State (3) 41 points

2. Westfield State (3) 37 points

3. UMass Dartmouth 35 points

4. Salem State (1) 34 points

5. Fitchburg State 25 points

6. Worcester State 16 points

7. Framingham State   8 points