University of Connecticut Athletics
Eric Nelson Named to Preseason All-Atlantic Hockey Second Team
9/29/2003 12:00:00 AM | Men's Ice Hockey
WEST POINT, NY (Sept. 28) - Senior Eric Nelson (Big Lake, MN) of the University of Connecticut men’s hockey team was named to the Preseason All-Atlantic Hockey Second Team, announced Monday at the newly-formed Atlantic Hockey Association’s Media Day held inside the Kimsey Athletic Center at West Point. Nelson, a defenseman and this year’s team captain, played in 30 games for UConn as a junior and tallied three goals and nine assists. The team, coming off a 8-23-3 record, was picked to finish eighth in the nine-team association as voted upon by the league’s head coaches.
Mercyhurst, the defending champion of the MAAC, has been tabbed as the preseason favorite to claim the inaugural Atlantic Hockey Association regular-season title. Quinnipiac’s Matt Craig was named the preseason "Player of the Year" and Army’s Brad Roberts preseason "Goalie of the Year." Following Mercyhurst in the preseason poll were: Quinnipiac, Holy Cross, Sacred Heart, Canisius, Army, Bentley, Connecticut and American International, respectively.
Atlantic Hockey is one of six Division I men’s ice hockey leagues in the nation. Nine former institutions from the MAAC Hockey League make up Atlantic Hockey’s charter membership in its inaugural season - AIC, Army, Bentley, Canisius, UConn, Holy Cross, Mercyhurst, Quinnipiac and Sacred Heart.
ATLANTIC HOCKEY PRESEASON POLL (first place votes)
1. Mercyhurst (8) 80 Points
2. Quinnipiac (1) 67
3. Holy Cross 60
4. Sacred Heart 47
5. Canisius 41
6. Army 40
7. Bentley 33
8. Connecticut 23
9. American International 14
Preseason Atlantic Hockey Player of the Year:
F Matt Craig (Quinnipiac)
Preseason Atlantic Hockey Goalie of the Year:
G Brad Roberts (Army)
Preseason All-Atlantic Hockey First Team:
F Matt Craig (Quinnipiac)
F Greg Kealey (Holy Cross)
F David Wrigley (Mercyhurst)
D R.J Irving (Holy Cross)
D T.J. Kemp (Mercyhurst)
G Brad Roberts (Army)
Preseason All-Atlantic Hockey Second Team:
F Chris Casey (Army)
F Guillaume Caron (AIC)
F Garrett Larson (Sacred Heart)
F Adam Tackaberry (Mercyhurst)
D Matt Field (Army)
D Eric Nelson (Connecticut)
G Jamie Holden (Quinnipiac)
