Seahawks ranked fourth in first national poll of the season

NEWPORT, R.I. - The Salve Regina University men's ice hockey team has been ranked fourth in the nation by USCHO.com in the first poll of the season.

After starting his first season as a head coach by knocking off the defending national champion (Norwich) on its home ice, Salve Regina's Zech Klann brought the Seahawks to their first-ever home ice NCAA competition and advanced to the national championship game in Lake Placid. The Seahawks return ACHA All-American goaltender Blake Wojtala (Trenton, Mich.), their all-time leader in wins (46) and shutouts (eight). Wojtala has veteran defensemen in classmates Kevin Clare (Chicago, Ill.) and Nick Cyr (Mount Laurel, N.J.) along with a talented second-year crew including forwards Paul Boutoussov (Dana Point, Calif.), Danny Eruzione (Winthrop, Mass.), and Erik Udahl (East Walpole, Mass.), the latter earning NCAA All-Tournament Team honors at the Frozen Four.

The Seahawks finished first in the CCC regular season (14-2-2 CCC; 26-6-2 overall) with the fewest goals allowed (33; goals against average 1.81). Klann is excited with his cast of newcomers including Matt Dillon, Sage Englund, Brent Hill, Matt Kidney, J.J. Layton, Derek Neal, George Sennott, and Louis-Felix St-Jean. "Five of these guys won a league championship together (Islanders Hockey Club) while setting a record for most wins," says Klann, "And they're ready to contribute at the next level."

Salve Regina begins its season on November 2, when it hosts the University of New England in a Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) matchup at 7 p.m.