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.