LAKE PLACID, N.Y. --- Led by reigning NCAA national champions Union, four ECAC Hockey teams cracked the top 20 of the USCHO.Com division I men’s ice hockey pre-season poll.  The Dutchmen, who clinched their first-ever national championship crown last season, earned nine first place votes and come into the 2014-’15 campaign ranked fifth.

Released every week during the season, the USCHO.Com poll consists of 50 voting members comprised of coaches, scouts and media members.

Minnesota took 36 first place votes and earned the top spot, followed by North Dakota and Providence, each with two first place votes, apiece.  The Bisons finished second with 874 points, while the Friars picked up a total of 831 points, good for third.  Boston College rounds out the top-five schools, coming in at number-four.

Colgate sits sixth in the pre-season poll, earning one first place vote and 652 points. The Raiders ended last year by making their fifth appearance in the NCAA Tournament and playing in the ECAC Hockey Championship game, against Union, for the first time since 1990.

Cornell, which welcome eight Freshmen to the team this season, sits in the 14^th place spot, earning 284 points, one ahead of Quinnipiac, who come into the season ranked 15^th. The Bobcats pocketed 282 votes from the voting panel.

The 2013 NCAA national champions, Yale Bulldogs, come into this season ranked 23^rd, having gathered 57 points.  Dartmouth was tabbed 29^th, while RPI was chosen 33^rd. Harvard, Brown, Clarkson and St. Lawrence all received votes to open the season.  The Crimson are ranked 35^th, the Bears are 37^th, while the Golden Knights come in at number 38, tied with Maine and Massachusetts. The Saints sit 42^nd, along with Niagara, with one vote.

The men's season opens Friday, Oct. 10 with five non-conference games, including; Clarkson, coming off its best season in six years, visiting Niagara; Colgate at fellow 2014 NCAA?Tournament participant St. Cloud State; Rensselaer traveling to Notre Dame for the annual Ice Breaker Tournament; St. Lawrence, in its first of nine non-league games, facing-off against RIT; and Union raising its championship banners when American International comes calling at Messa Rink.

On March 20-21, 2015, the conference’s top four post season teams will come to Lake Placid to play in the ECAC Hockey Championship Tournament. The winner of this tournament will receive an automatic bid into the NCAA Division I Men’s Ice Hockey National Championship Tournament for the opportunity to play for the national championship crown. Tickets go on sale, Monday, Nov. 3.

-- ORDA --

Established in 1982, the New York State Olympic Regional Development Authority (ORDA) was created by the State of New York to manage the facilities used during the 1980 Olympic Winter Games at Lake Placid. ORDA operates Whiteface, Belleayre and Gore Mountain ski areas; the Olympic Sports Complex at Mt. Van Hoevenberg; the Olympic speed skating oval, Olympic jumping complex and Olympic arena. As host to international and national championships, the Authority has brought millions of athletes, spectator and participants to the region, resulting in significant economic development.