It was a tough game tonight for the Razorbacks as the defending SECHC Tournament champions fell 7-3 to the Oklahoma Sooners (D1) in their season opener. The Razorbacks played their hearts out and didn’t give up till the last whistle blew, getting a true test by scheduling a top-tier program to start the season.

The Sooners finished seventh in the region last season with a record of 29-16-1 and made a trip to the second round of the Division I Tournament.

In the first period the Sooners got off to a quick start with two power-play goals. Defenseman Troy Puente scored a power play goal 2:11 into the game. Following a slashing penalty, the Sooners claimed their second goal of the game.

With only 1:46 left to play in the first period Arkansas forward Johnny Stromp put Razorback Hockey on the board with the Hogs first, to bring them within one.

At the start of the second period the Razorbacks came out with the momentum of a late-period goal. However, Oklahoma had an answer and added two goals to take a 4-1 lead into the final frame.

Early in the third period Johnny Stromp scored his second goal of the game for the Razorbacks, but it didn’t take long for Oklahoma to answer. Kevin Zehnder netted his second goal of the game, putting the Sooners ahead 5 goals to 2.

Forest Mudgett scored a power-play goal nine minutes into the third period. However, it was Zehnder’s night as he netted a hat trick, giving the Sooners an eventual 7-3 win.

A 7-3 loss is nothing easy for any team to handle, but Arkansas got the chance to play against a top-tier Division I school to prepare for the upcoming season ahead as they look to claim their third straight conference championship.

The 2011-12 season is just around the corner as Ole Miss takes on Memphis this weekend. As the season approaches quickly, the South Eastern Collegiate Hockey Conference is releasing the inaugural pre-season coaches’ poll and players-to-watch list for the upcoming season.

In the first ever conference coaches’ poll, Arkansas and Florida are picked to lead win the divisions this season. Arkansas is two-time defending conference Champions and Florida has reached the title game the last two seasons.

Despite their dominance the last few seasons, neither team received unanimous first-place votes. Both Arkansas and Florida received three first-place votes each.

Coaches were not allowed to vote for their own teams and only voted for their respective divisions.

Alabama and Ole Miss both received a first-place vote in the west rankings. Georgia and Tennessee also received first-place votes in the East.

Alabama and Ole Miss shared a tie for the second spot in the West, both receiving 12 points each. Mississippi State was picked to finish fourth, receiving seven points. Auburn was picked to finish fifth in the west.

In the East, Georgia was picked to finish second, receiving 12 points while Tennessee was third with 10 points. Vanderbilt edged out South Carolina by a point for fourth in the rankings with a total of seven points.

The SECHC also releases the 2011-12 returning players watch list. This list was also picked on by the coaching staffs of the schools.

Arkansas beat Florida 5-2 Sunday night to win back-to-back SECHC Tournamnent Championships. Razorbacks’ Garrett Meier was named Tournament MVP. Georgia beat Alabama 7-4 for 3rd Place and Ole Miss defeated Auburn to claim 5th place at this year’s SECHC Tournament.