Media Day and More

Hockey East Media Day was held Monday, highlighted by the annual preseason coaches’ poll. The Terriers, picked second behind defending champion BC, earned three first-place votes. Third-ranked New Hampshire received the other first-place vote. The full poll with first place votes in parens:


1. Boston College (6) 86
2. Boston University (3) 80
3. New Hampshire (1) 78
4. Northeastern 62
5. Vermont 58
6. Massachusetts 48
7. UMass Lowell 46
8. Providence 34
9. Maine 28
10. Merrimack 20

Terrier Head Coach Jack Parker and the other coaches offered thoughts on the upcoming season and the 25th anniversary of Hockey East. Said Parker:

We have the capabilities to be a very strong team, but it will only be if we act as a team. If we are a bunch of individuals, which sometimes crept up last year, we’ll never get to where we need to be. Our objective is to become a team - as soon as possible. Our captains have already been helping us do just that.

In goal, the position is wide open with a sophomore with just two games under his belt and two incoming freshmen. Despite being young, the three of them all have a good deal of maturity. There is skill there and there is competitiveness there and it will be interesting to see who evolves - or how many evolve - as our goaltenders of record. (more)

Also announced were the composite Hockey East television schedule which includes 14 BU game telecasts during the regular season and a season-long fan poll to recognize the leagues top players, teams, coaches and moments during the previous 24 seasons.

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Our colleague at The Western Hockey Blog, Chris Dilks, has begun a series of previews of the WCHA teams. BU will open its season against North Dakota, second ranked in the WCHA coaches poll, and could face the third-ranked University of Denver in the early January Denver Cup. The Western Blog also has posted both the WCHA and CCHA coaches’ polls.