Hockey East Coaches pick Terriers to repeat (updated)

Hockey East’s coaches have picked the Terriers to repeat as conference champions this season. The coaches poll, announced during Media Day today at Boston’s TD Garden, gave BU six of 10 first-place votes, with BC and Lowell each receiving two votes. Last season, the Terriers won the conference championship for the seventh time and the regular season title for the eighth time.

Assistant captain and top returning scorer Nick Bonino (photo), speaking to New England Hockey Journal's Andrew Merritt, stressed the importance of putting last year’s championship in the rear-view mirror and focusing on the present.

"I think guys need to realize that last year was a totally separate
entity. We’re a new team, totally new dynamic in the locker
room,” he said. “As long as guys realize that, as long as guys are committed to forging our own path, I think we’re all set.”

Coach Jack Parker, who was quoted by ESPN.com, echoed the same thoughts:

"What we're concerned about is not being too impressed with ourselves from the year before," BU head coach Jack Parker said. "We have to make our team better during the bulk of the season and then worry about what happens in the playoffs
later on.

"Our biggest question will be whether the freshmen coming in can step up and add a little bit to the offense, and secondly how much of a jump will our sophomores make."

2009-10 Preseason Coaches’ Poll
Team (1st Place Votes) Pts.
1. Boston University (6) 84
2. UMass Lowell (2) 79
3. Boston College (2) 76
4. New Hampshire 59
Vermont 59
6. Northeastern 57
7. Massachusetts 47
8. Maine 32
9. Providence 24
10. Merrimack 23

• Blog contributor buoldtimer attended Media Day and will have a report on his observations there. Check back tomorrow.

TV schedule announced
Nine regular season BU games will be telecast on ESPNU and NESN this season, beginning with the home opener against Notre Dame. For the composite Hockey East TV schedule, click here.

Oct. 20 Notre Dame at Boston U. ESPNU 7pm
Jan. 2 Massachusetts at Boston U. ESPNU 4pm
Jan. 8 Boston U. vs. BC (FP) NESN 7:30pm
Jan. 15 Boston University at Providence NESN 7:30pm
Jan. 22 Boston U. at Boston College NESN 7:30pm
Feb. 1 Boston U. vs. Northeastern (BP) NESN 8pm
Feb. 12 Maine at Boston University NESN 7:30pm
Feb. 26 Boston University at Vermont NESN 7:30pm
Feb. 28 Boston U. at Vermont ESPNU 3pm

Most Terrier home games will be broadcast online through the All-Access service. We'll post details and subscription costs as they become available.

Bourque claimed by Penguins
A few days ago we reported that Chris Bourque had made the Washington Caps roster. Not so fast. The Caps placed him on waivers today and he was quickly snapped up by the defending Stanley Cup Champion Penguins and placed on their roster.

Colin Wilson, currently a non-roster player with the Nashville Predators, was ranked #19 on the Hockeysfuture.com''s list of the top 50 prospects