by Anthony Travalgia/CHN Reporter (@A_Travalgia)
Things to Watch
Can Sacred Heart Get Over the Hump?
Sacred Heart was picked to finish atop the Atlantic Hockey standings in the conference’s preseason coaches’ poll, the ultimate sign of respect from its peers. Last year, the program was picked second. Year in and year out, the Pioneers always put a talented product on the ice, but they can’t seem to get over the hump, exiting the playoffs in the opening round in each of the last four seasons.
Addressing some areas of need and adding to what was already a deep roster, the Pioneers tapped into the transfer portal as well as anyone else inside Atlantic Hockey. The biggest additions come in the form of Tyler Ghiardosi and Matt Guerra from Holy Cross. The two combined for 22 goals and 52 points last season.
“I think my assistant coaches have done a really good job in finding players that we felt we needed to take another step. We wanted to get bigger, we wanted to get heavier, we wanted to get harder and I think we’ve addressed that,” head coach C.J. Marottolo said.
With a deep roster of returnees combined with well-placed additions out of the portal, does Sacred Heart finally have what it needs to get over the hump and capture a championship?
The End of An Era
This summer, Army head coach Brian Riley announced the upcoming season would be his last, naming assistant Zach McKelvie as his replacement, ending a 75-year run of Riley’s head coaching Army. The tenure started with Riley’s father Jack who was replaced by Brian’s brother Rob before Brian took over 21 years ago.
Army will host American International in Riley’s last regular season home game. While it happened to play out that way, it’s the opponent Riley would have selected. Of course, AIC is coached by Eric Lang, who spent five seasons as Riley’s assistant. Brendan, one of Brian’s two sons, is now an assistant to Lang. Jack, Brian’s other son, is an assistant at Army.
“I’ll be on the bench with Jack and Brendan’s over there with Langer (Lang). Langer is somebody that I have the utmost respect for. I feel like he’s part of the family,” Brian said. “I’m trying not to think of that last potential home game. I’d like to be able to kind of work our way in and…
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