CORTLAND, N.Y. - The State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) men's hockey coaches have voted Geneseo No. 1 in the preseason poll with 63 points. The coaches also voted Oswego No. 2 with 56 points and Plattsburgh No. 3 with 48 points.
The Geneseo Knights will come into 2018-2019 season as defending SUNYAC champions. Last season they defeated Fredonia 7-1 in the title game to win the school's fifth SUNYAC men's ice hockey championship. Four time SUNYAC Coach of the Year, Chris Schultz will be entering his 13th season as the head coach of the Knights. Schultz has led the team to two SUNYAC championship titles, the first one in the 2015-2016 season and the second one coming last season. Geneseo will have last season's Tournament MVP David Szmyd returning for his junior year and looking for back-to-back SUNYAC championships.
Ed Gosek is returning to Oswego for his 16th year as head coach and will be looking to take the program back to the championship. Gosek has led Oswego to three SUNYAC championships and one NCAA Division III title in 2007. Last season the Lakers finished as the No. 1 seed going into the SUNYAC tournament, but they were upset by Fredonia 3-1 in the semifinal game. The reigning Defensive Player of the Year, Devin Campbell, will be returning for his senior year with Oswego.
The Cardinals come into the new season looking to do better than their first round exit in the SUNYAC tournament last season. Plattsburgh's longest tenured and winningest coach, Bob Emery, is entering his 30th season. Emery has led Plattsburgh to 16 SUNYAC championship titles, including the 2016-17 season, and 10 NCAA Division III Final Fours. Forward Rich McCartney, last season's SUNYAC Rookie of the Year, will be returning for his sophomore season.
2018-2019 SUNYAC Men's Hockey Bracket
- Geneseo, 63
- Oswego, 56
- Plattsburgh, 48
- Fredonia, 43
- Buffalo State, 40
- Brockport, 25
- Potsdam, 23
- Cortland, 18
- Morrisville, 8