DULUTH, Minn. – The Northern Collegiate Hockey Association (NCHA) has unveiled their preseason poll for the 2022-23 men's hockey season. The Trine University men's hockey team has been picked to finish in fourth.
The Thunder finished in a tie for fourth with the Milwaukee School of Engineering in the poll, each garnering votes tallying 52 points. The reigning NCHA and NCAA Division III champions from Adrian College finished in the top spot with 81 points and nine of the first-place votes. St. Norbert College finished second with 71 points and Aurora University grabbed the last first-place vote and 66 points.
Trine and head coach Alex Todd enter their sixth season of operation coming off of the programs best season so far. Last year the team finished 19-9 overall and 11-7 in NCHA play, good enough for fourth in the conference standings. The finish earned their first hosting duties during the NCHA Harris Cup Playoffs where they won to advance to the semi-finals against Adrian.
The record-breaking win total for the program came on the back of an impressive offensive season with new records in points (300), goals (114) and assists (186). Little changes offensively for the team, with the top nine team scorers all returning to the squad. Highlighting the group is fifth year Garrett Hallford who already sits atop the program career leader boards in all three major offensive categories and sophomore Bobby Price who garnered NCAH All-Freshman Team Honors last season. Junior Thad Marcola returns having led the team in goals last season with 17.
Last season juniors Shane Brancato and Elias Sandholm split time in net for the team, with Brancato earning slightly more time. Both return to the team this season for another run. Brancato led the team with 11 wins while Sandholm led the team in goals-against average (1.69) and save percentage (.925).
The Thunder will begin the season when they host Fredonia State University on Friday, October 28. Opening puck drop is scheduled for 7 p.m.