Boston College Athletics
Men's Hockey Earns Preseason No. 5 National Ranking
September 26, 2011 | Men's Hockey
Sept. 26, 2011
Boston College men's hockey, a 30-win team in 2010-11, has earned the nation's No. 5 preseason ranking for 2011-12 according to both major polls - the USCHO.com and the USA Today/USA Hockey Magazine - released on Monday.
The top five teams in both national polls were consistent. Notre Dame earned the top preseason billing in the USCHO.com poll, followed by Miami, North Dakota and Denver, while Miami was chosen as USA Today/USA Hockey Magazine's preseason favorite to capture the championship, followed by the Irish, North Dakota and Denver.
Boston College enters the 2011-12 campaign having captured last winter's Beanpot, Hockey East regular-season title and league tournament championship.
Head coach Jerry York, now in his 18th season at Boston College and 40th season a collegiate head coach, returns 18 letterwinners from last year's club.
Boston College will open the season in the Ice Breaker Tournament at Ralph Engelstad Arena in Grand Forks, N.D. The Eagles will face Central Collegiate Hockey Association opponent Michigan State in college hockey's season-opening game on Friday, Oct. 7 at 5 p.m. EST. BC will play either Air Force or host North Dakota, both NCAA Tournament qualifiers in 2010-11, the next night.
