Some random thoughts from Monday's ECAC Hockey media day.

— The media day wasn't held at the Times Union Center, home of the ECACH tournament and league offices, for the first time in several years. It was held at the Hilton Garden Inn-Albany Med/University Heights hotel (boy, that's a long name for a hotel) just off New Scotland Ave.

It was a more intimate setting to have media day. Nothing against the TU Center, where I love spending the third weekend of March every year (and fourth weekend of that month every other year when the NCAA tournament East Regional is there), but it seemed to be easier to mingle with coaches and other media members.

Of course, there was the issue of finding the hotel. A couple of the coaches got lot.

In his remarks to the people in attendance, Clarkson coach George Roll, who was one of the coaches who got lost, kidded ECACH commissioner Steve Hagwell about it.

"You were right, Steve, about this being an intimate place," Roll said. "It's so intimate, I couldn't find it."

— It was a historic day for Princeton and Union.

The Tigers, the defending ECACH tournament champions, were picked to win the regular-season title by the coaches and media. It is the first time that the Tigers have ever been picked first in either poll.

The Dutchmen, who were picked to finish last in both polls last season, were in the upper half of the polls this time. The coaches picked them to finish fifth, while the media has them finishing sixth. That's the highest they have ever been picked in the polls.

When I asked Union coach Nate Leaman if he felt the same way about the this year's polls as last year's, he provided the perfect answer.

"I'll say what I said last year: these polls are so scientific," Leaman said, tongue firmly in cheek.

— A moment of silence was observed for Ned Harkness, who died Friday at the age of 89. Harkness coached at RPI, Cornell and Union.

— As usual, master of ceremonies Rich Becker of WXXA (Ch. 23) did an excellent job keeping the program moving. He even said some nice things about me when I got ready to announce the media poll.

I will pay him later.

— Paul Stewart, the ECACH supervisor of officials, sat down with the media during lunch and was asked about the two-referee, two-linesmen system that will be used in college hockey this season.

Stewart went into a history of officiating prior to World War II. If Becker hadn't started the post-lunch program, Stewart may still be at the table answering the question.

— Harvard's announcement last week that junior goalie Kyle Richter would be sitting out the season for personal reasons put me in a quandary.

Since I conduct the ECACH media preseason poll and all-conference team, and Richter was the media's original choice for all-conference goalie, I had to ask the people who voted for Richter to make a tough decision: keep your vote for Richter, or change it.

The majority of the Richter voters decided to change their vote. Cornell's Ben Scrivens won the vote.

— I put my TV/Radio degree to use by video taping interviews with Hagwell, Leaman and RPI coach Seth Appert. Portions of the Hagwell interview were on my Monday Web story. But I was having problems uploading the Appert and Leaman interviews. Hopefully, I can get those on the Web soon.

And you will see more video blogs from me during the season. This is a great tool, and will give the fans even more content.

— The ECACH coaches and other guests will be at Stadium Golf Course Tuesday morning for the annual golf outing.