Photo by: Josh Gee
Pios Named AHA Favorites for Third Straight Season, Gundarah Tabbed Preseason POY
9/16/2026 3:00:00 PM | Men's Ice Hockey
SHU broke the program win’s record last year and played in the AHA Title Game
BOSTON – For the third straight season, the Sacred Heart University men's ice hockey team was named the favorites in the Atlantic Hockey America (AHA) Preseason Coaches Poll, as announced on Wednesday. In addition to being named No. 1 in the poll, junior SHU goaltender Ajeet Gundarah was named the league's Preseason Player of the Year.Â
The Pios earn their third straight preseason favorite designation after a historic 2025-26 season. SHU won a program-best 23 games and made its third-ever AHA Championship game appearance. Sacred Heart finished the year with wins in eight of its last 10 games, including clinching its first AHA Semifinal series win at the Martire Family Arena.Â
Sacred Heart collected 59 points, and three first-place votes, from the nine league coaches. The two-time defending AHA champs from Bentley were picked second with 58 points and five first-place votes. SHU becomes the first team since AIC to be named AHA preseason favorites for three straight seasons. The Yellow Jackets earned the poll's No. 1 spot between 2019-22.Â
RIT took the third spot in the poll with 51 points and the final first-place vote. Holy Cross (42) and Air Force (34) rounded out the top five in the rankings, while Robert Morris (27), Army (25) and Canisius  and Niagara (14) went sixth, seventh and T8th, respectively.Â
Gundarah was critical to the Pioneers' late-season surge, delivering a strong performance after returning from injury. The Richmond, British Columbia, native led the conference in both save percentage (.928) and goals-against average (2.1), finishing seventh and 10th in the country, respectively. In 22 games, Gundarah went 13-7-1 with 570 saves and two shutouts, making his second appearance on the Mike Richter Award Watchlist.Â
Gundarah was nearly unbeatable over the home stretch of the season, ending the year 7-2-0 over his final nine appearances, tallying 250 saves, a 1.67 goals-against average, a .943 save percentage, and one shutout. He allowed two or fewer goals in all seven of his wins in that run.Â
Gundarah becomes the first Pioneer to be named the AHA Preseason Player of the Year since former SHU great Neil Shea was named Co-Player of the Year before the 2022-23 season.Â
Sacred Heart opens the much-anticipated 2026-27 campaign on Friday, Oct. 9, with the Ice Breaker Tournament, kicking things off with a 7 p.m. matchup against Bowling Green at the Martire Family Arena.
Preseason Poll
1. Sacred Heart (3 first place votes), 59 points
2. Bentley (5), 58 points
3. RIT (1), 51 points
4. Holy Cross, 42 points
5. Air Force, 34 points
6. Robert Morris, 27 points
7. Army West Point, 25 points
T-8. Canisius, 14 points
T-8. Niagara, 14 points
Â
The Pios earn their third straight preseason favorite designation after a historic 2025-26 season. SHU won a program-best 23 games and made its third-ever AHA Championship game appearance. Sacred Heart finished the year with wins in eight of its last 10 games, including clinching its first AHA Semifinal series win at the Martire Family Arena.Â
Sacred Heart collected 59 points, and three first-place votes, from the nine league coaches. The two-time defending AHA champs from Bentley were picked second with 58 points and five first-place votes. SHU becomes the first team since AIC to be named AHA preseason favorites for three straight seasons. The Yellow Jackets earned the poll's No. 1 spot between 2019-22.Â
RIT took the third spot in the poll with 51 points and the final first-place vote. Holy Cross (42) and Air Force (34) rounded out the top five in the rankings, while Robert Morris (27), Army (25) and Canisius  and Niagara (14) went sixth, seventh and T8th, respectively.Â
Gundarah was critical to the Pioneers' late-season surge, delivering a strong performance after returning from injury. The Richmond, British Columbia, native led the conference in both save percentage (.928) and goals-against average (2.1), finishing seventh and 10th in the country, respectively. In 22 games, Gundarah went 13-7-1 with 570 saves and two shutouts, making his second appearance on the Mike Richter Award Watchlist.Â
Gundarah was nearly unbeatable over the home stretch of the season, ending the year 7-2-0 over his final nine appearances, tallying 250 saves, a 1.67 goals-against average, a .943 save percentage, and one shutout. He allowed two or fewer goals in all seven of his wins in that run.Â
Gundarah becomes the first Pioneer to be named the AHA Preseason Player of the Year since former SHU great Neil Shea was named Co-Player of the Year before the 2022-23 season.Â
Sacred Heart opens the much-anticipated 2026-27 campaign on Friday, Oct. 9, with the Ice Breaker Tournament, kicking things off with a 7 p.m. matchup against Bowling Green at the Martire Family Arena.
Preseason Poll
1. Sacred Heart (3 first place votes), 59 points
2. Bentley (5), 58 points
3. RIT (1), 51 points
4. Holy Cross, 42 points
5. Air Force, 34 points
6. Robert Morris, 27 points
7. Army West Point, 25 points
T-8. Canisius, 14 points
T-8. Niagara, 14 points
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Players Mentioned
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