RIT earned eight first-place votes in the annual preseason Atlantic Hockey preseason coaches poll and is looked at as the team to beat this season in the conference.
Air Force (two) and Holy Cross (one) also earned first-place votes.
| School (First-place votes) | Total points |
|---|---|
| 1. RIT (8) | 95 |
| 2. Air Force (2) | 88 |
| 3. Holy Cross (1) | 72 |
| 4 (tie). Army | 70 |
| 4 (tie). Mercyhurst | 70 |
| 6. Robert Morris | 60 |
| 7. Sacred Heart | 48 |
| 8. Bentley | 43 |
| 9. Canisius | 27 |
| 10. Niagara | 17 |
| 11. American International | 15 |
