The 2024-25 men's college hockey season is right around the corner and that means it's preseason coaches poll time across all conferences. Atlantic Hockey America, which will enter its first season under its new banner following the merger between Atlantic Hockey and College Hockey America uniting men's and women's conferences, released its own preseason coaches' poll Tuesday.

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AHA has traditionally been one of the most unpredictable conferences, which makes for dramatic and often surprising finishes in the league. However, the coaches' poll at least gives us a bit of an idea of where the winds are blowing and what the people who know the league best expect.

Let's take a look at how it broke down.

Atlantic Hockey America Men's Preseason Coaches' Poll

1. Sacred Heart (5 first place votes) - 102 points
2. RIT (3) - 94 points
3. Holy Cross (1) - 93 points
4. AIC (1) - 84 points
5. Bentley - 76 points
6. Niagara (1) - 67 points
7. Air Force - 57 points
8. Canisius - 45 points
9. Mercyhurst - 36 points
10. Army - 32 points
11. Robert Morris - 26 points

AHA Coaches' Poll Reaction

As AIC head coach Eric Lang said during AHA media day, the beauty of this conference is "there is no top or bottom." Which is to say, parity is the name of the game. On top of that, the transfer portal has played a significant role both in good ways and bad for a number of teams in the conference. Roster turnover is part of life in college hockey anymore, but it makes for some unpredictability and the chance for teams to really move the needle in their bid for competitiveness. 

Among the teams that was aggressive in flipping some of its roster via the transfer portal was No. 1 Sacred Heart.

SHU is coming off of a strong season that saw the Pioneers finish third in the league standings. Now heading into their second full season in the Matire Family Arena with some veteran reinforcements via the transfer portal, the coaches across AHA certainly seem to expect a jump to continue the positive momentum.

Defending AHA champion RIT is still hovering near the top despite losing four key players via the portal including leading scorers Carter Wilkie and Cody Laskosky. Additionally, netminder Tommy Scarfone and veteran defenseman Aidan Hansen-Bukata also departed, both joining Big Ten programs. Coach Wayne Wilson's colleagues certainly know better than to count him and the Tigers out, though. RIT is always a threat in the league.

Meanwhile, No. 3 Holy Cross will return Hobey Baker Top 10 finalist Liam McLinskey, who was named the conference's preseason Player of the Year. It's of course no surprise to see McLinskey atop the list as he is also the reigning Atlantic Hockey Player of the Year. He's one of the league's elite talents and certainly stacks up well anywhere else in the country as a 6-foot-3 forward with scoring potential. Head coach Bill Riga said during media day that there's still more McLinskey can do to improve as teams continue to focus more attention on him defensively.

One team I will be interested to watch that finished a bit lower on the coaches poll is Canisius. Led by top returning scorer Matteo Giampa, who averaged nearly a point-per-game last season, the Golden Griffins didn't lose a single player to the transfer portal following last season. Everyone stayed and that continuity is something that could potentially be an advantage for Canisius as they look to improve on a 12-21-4 finish last season.

"All coaches are hopeful of what comes next after a season ends," said head coach Trevor Large after the preseason media day, recognizing that players have more options via the transfer portal. "The players feel like they're developing here. The grass isn't always greener. There's lots of reasons to stay." 

While the transfer portal will remain a hot topic, it's barely a topic at all for the service academies. Neither Air Force nor Army are able to add via the transfer portal like other teams. So strong recruiting and sticking to the identity of their team remains the priority for both clubs.

"There are no quick fixes, no mulligans," said Frank Serratore, Air Force head coach, who will lean on veteran goalie Guy Blessing, who had some standout moments last season for the Falcons.

This season also marks the end of an era in AHA as Brian Riley will hang up the whistle as Army's head coach following the 2024-25 campaign. While the Black Knights haven't been given a great shot of contending at the top of the league, you really can't count out a team that will be playing with some added motivation.

FloHockey's live streaming coverage of the Atlantic Hockey America men's conference will open Oct. 4 as Air Force hosts Arizona State.

Preseason All-AHA Men's Team

Forwards

• Liam McLinskey, Holy Cross
• Matteo Giampa, Canisius
• Matthew WIlde, RIT

Defense

• Chris Hedden, Air Force
• Mac Gadowsky, Army

Goalie

• Thomas Gale, Holy Cross

Liam McLinskey Named Preseason AHA Player Of The Year

The 2023-24 season could not have gone much better for Holy Cross junior Liam McLinskey. He was a Hobey Baker Top 10 finalist, a second-team All-America selection, a Walter Brown semifinalist, Atlantic Hockey Player of the year, Atlantic Hockey Scoring Champion, and the list could keep going.

Now a senior, the 6-foot-3 forward who started his collegiate career at Quinnipiac before spending each of the last two seasons with Holy Cross, enters with massive expectations.

He had 47 points in 39 games last year, showing improved touch and playmaking ability.

Head coach Bill Riga said Tuesday that McLinskey was able to adapt to the increased pressure teams put on him. He found ways to impact the game after being the team's primary goal scorer late the previous season. On top of his outstanding offensive outburst, McLinskey finished with a plus-23 rating, the highest ever for Holy Cross at the Division I level. 

The expectations are only higher for the top talent in the AHA this season as he was selected as preseason player of the year. There's also a good chance McLinskey will generate some NHL interest given his size and the massive jumps he's shown year over year in both his production and how rounded out his game has become. 

He'll certainly be one of the most exciting players to watch in the AHA this season.

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