BOSTON, Mass. – September 17, 2024 – Today, Atlantic Hockey America (AHA) announced the results of the 2024-25 Men’s Coaches’ Poll and Preseason Awards.
 
The Sacred Heart Pioneers claimed the top spot in the Coaches’ Poll, tallying 102 total points and five first-place votes in balloting among AHA head coaches.
 
RIT received three first-place votes, garnering 94 total points. Holy Cross came in third place collecting 93 total points and one first-place vote. AIC finished fourth with 84 points and one first-place vote, while Bentley came in fifth with 76 points. Niagara claimed the final first-place vote, finishing sixth with 67 points. Air Force finished seventh with 57 points, Canisius finished eighth with 45 points, Mercyhurst finished ninth with 36 points, and Army finished tenth with 32 points. Robert Morris rounded out the poll with 29 points.
 
C.J. Marottolo’s Sacred Heart Pioneers finished third in the Atlantic Hockey standings last season, ending the season with a record of 14-10-2 in league play. Marottolo’s squad will start the 2024-25 regular season with a two-game non-conference road series against Colgate on Oct. 11-12. The first AHA conference game for the Pioneers comes on Oct. 25 at home against Holy Cross.
 
AHA Preseason Player of the Year
Liam McLinskey of Holy Cross was named 2024-25 AHA Preseason Player of the Year. The senior forward is coming off a junior campaign in which he was named Atlantic Hockey Player of the Year. In 39 games, McLinskey led Atlantic Hockey in points (47), assists (28), and plus/minus (+23). He also potted 19 goals while picking up at least a point in 31 games and registering 14 multi-point games. For his efforts, he was named a Top 10 Finalist for the Hobey Baker Award. Canisius sophomore forward Matteo Giampa also received a vote in AHA Preseason Player of the Year voting.
 
Preseason All-AHA Team
The Preseason All-AHA Team includes forwards Liam McLinskey from Holy Cross, Matteo Giampa from Canisius, and Matthew Wilde from RIT. McLinskey was named to the All-Atlantic Hockey Tournament Team in 2023 before a breakout campaign in 2023-24. His 47 points from last season are tied for the second-most all-time in the Holy Cross Division I era. Giampa was Atlantic Hockey’s Rookie of the Year last season, as well as being named to the All-AHA Second Team and All-AHA Rookie Team. He was named Atlantic Hockey Rookie of the Month twice, and Atlantic Hockey Player of the Month for November. Wilde’s 19 goals for RIT last season were the most by a Tiger first-year player in the school’s Division I era. He was named Atlantic Hockey Rookie of the Month for February and Rookie of the Week on March 18. Other forwards receiving votes included Army’s Joey Baez, Mercyhurst’s Boris Skalos, Sacred Heart’s John Jaworski, Sacred Heart’s Tyler Ghirardosi, and Holy Cross’ Jack Stockfish.
 
Air Force’s Chris Hedden and Army’s Mac Gadowsky were named to the Preseason All-AHA Team as defensemen. Hedden finished last season with eight goals and 29 assists for 37 points in 38 games. He led the league and was fourth in the nation in points by a defenseman. He also led Air Force in blocked shots with 54. Gadowsky was named to the AHA All-Rookie Team last season, leading all AHA rookie defensemen with 23 points. His 19 assists led the Black Knights, and he earned Atlantic Hockey Defensive Player of the Month honors for December. Other defensemen receiving votes included Bentley’s Nick Bochen, Sacred Heart’s Mikey Adamson, and Sacred Heart’s Hunter Sansbury.
 
Thomas Gale of Holy Cross was the choice at goaltender for the Preseason All-AHA Team. Gale finished last season with an 8-8-2 record, 2.41 goals-against average, and .917 save percentage over 19 games and 18 starts. He recorded shutouts on back-to-back nights on Nov. 17 and 18 against Bentley, and was named Atlantic Hockey Golatender of the Week twice on the year. Bentley’s Connor Hasley and RIT’s Trent Burnham also recevied votes in the balloting.

2024-25 AHA Preseason Coaches’ Poll

Team (1st Place Votes)	Points
Sacred Heart (5)	102
RIT (3)	94
Holy Cross (1)	93
AIC (1)	84
Bentley	76
Niagara (1)	67
Air Force	57
Canisius	45
Mercyhurst	36
Army	32
Robert Morris	29

Coaches could not vote for their own teams. Based on an 11-10-9-8-7-6-5-4-3-2 scale.
 
AHA Coaches’ Preseason Player of the Year (Votes)
Coaches could not vote for their own players
 
Liam McLinskey, Sr., F, Holy Cross (10)
Others receiving votes: Matteo Giampa, So., F, Canisius
 
Coaches’ Preseason All-AHA Team (Votes)
Coaches could not vote for their own players
 
Forwards
Liam McLinskey, Sr., Holy Cross (10)
Matteo Giampa, So., Canisius (10)
Matthew Wilde, So., RIT (5)
Others receiving votes: Joey Baez, Sr., Army (3); Boris Skalos, So., Mercyhurst (2); John Jaworski, Gr., Sacred Heart; Tyler Ghirardosi, Gr., Sacred Heart; Jack Stockfish, So., Holy Cross
 
Defensemen
Chris Hedden, Jr., Air Force (8)
Mac Gadowsky, So., Army (5)
Others receiving votes: Nick Bochen, Gr., Bentley (4); Mikey Adamson, Jr., Sacred Heart (3); Hunter Sansbury, Sr., Sacred Heart (2)
 
Goaltender
Thomas Gale, Sr., Holy Cross (5)
Others receiving votes: Connor Hasley, Jr., Bentley (4); Trent Burnham, Jr., RIT (2)
 
About Atlantic Hockey America
Atlantic Hockey America (AHA) embarks on its first season in 2024-25 after the merger between the Atlantic Hockey Association and College Hockey America. The conference fields 11 men’s teams (American International College, Bentley University, Canisius College, The College of Holy Cross, Mercyhurst University, Niagara University, Rochester Institute of Technology, Robert Morris University, Sacred Heart University, the United States Air Force Academy, and the United States Military Academy), and six women’s teams (Lindenwood University, Mercyhurst University, Penn State University, Rochester Institute of Technology, Robert Morris University, and Syracuse University). In 2025-26, Delaware University will join the women’s league. For more information, visit atlantichockeyamerica.com.