In the Hockey East men’s pre-season coaches poll released on Tuesday at the annual media day at TD Garden, the Boston University Terriers were selected to win the league with 109 points and nine first-place votes.
Boston College (99 points) got two first-place votes and picked second, while Merrimack, Northeastern, and UConn rounded out the top five. Maine, coming off a 2022-23 season where they went 15-16-5 (9-11-4 Hockey East), were selected to finish in ninth place out of 11 teams. The Black Bears lost to Vermont in the league playoffs opening round last winter. Maine plays an exhibition game against UNH in Waterville on October 7, before opening the season at the Alfond Arena against RPI on Thursday and Friday October 12 and 13th.
Here is the full pre-season coaches poll-
1. Boston University (9)- 109 points
2. Boston College (2-)- 99 points
3. Merrimack- 81 points
4. Northeastern- 75 points
5. UConn- 68 points
6. Providence- 65 points
7. UMass-Lowell- 62 points
8. Massachusetts- 54 points
9. Maine- 52 points
10. New Hampshire- 30 points
11. Vermont- 20 points
Written by Chris Lessner
