EAST MEADOW, N.Y. — A 5-2 win at Notre Dame, nine regular-season wins before the holiday break, a 4-0 record at home, and now the LIU men's hockey team is receiving votes in the USCHO Division I Men's Ice Hockey Poll — and the season is not even halfway over.
 
LIU earned national recognition Monday afternoon when the USCHO Division I rankings were released. The Sharks received four votes as they inch closer to securing a spot in the top-20 ranking for the first time in program history.
 
"It is a great indicator of program growth to receive the small recognition that we did," said head coach Brett Riley. "To be featured among college hockey's top programs is a great acknowledgment."
 
The Sharks head into the holiday break on a high note after sweeping Stonehill this past weekend to improve to 4-0 at home. It marks the first time in program history that LIU has opened its home schedule with four consecutive wins, achieving its best home winning percentage in five years.
 
"Even more impressive and important than the notoriety is the way that our guys competed and battled for one another throughout the first half of the season. We were battle-tested with extreme travel, injuries, and little recovery time, and the team stepped up and found a way to rise to the occasion," Riley added.
 
The Sharks return to action on Dec. 29 at Brown before hosting Holy Cross for the first-ever meeting at the Northwell Health Ice Center on Dec. 31.

The USCHO.com Division I Men's Ice Hockey Poll is compiled weekly and consists of 50 voters, including coaches and media professionals from across the country.

This marks the Sharks' sixth overall appearance and fourth this season in the USCHO poll, with the most votes received to date. Previously, LIU earned one vote on four occasions and three votes just two weeks ago.

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