Boston College Athletics
Men's Hockey Chosen To Repeat As League Champions
September 27, 2011 | Men's Hockey
Sept. 27, 2011
Boston College has been chosen as the preseason favorite to win the league regular-season title voted on by the Hockey East Coaches and announced at the league's annual media day at TD Garden on Tuesday.
BC earned seven first-place votes and a total of 88 points. Boston University was picked second with three first-place votes and 80 points, 11 points ahead of New Hampshire. Maine and Merrimack rounded out the top five selections.
"We're honored to be chosen first, but now it's time to 'fasten your seat belt' since it is not an easy road ahead," head coach Jerry York said.
It marks the 11th time in the last 14 seasons that the Eagles have been selected as the preseason favorite, or co-favorite, to win the conference crown.
Boston College won its record 11th league regular-season title after finishing its conference schedule with a 20-6-1 record last winter. The title marked the program's fifth Hockey East regular-season championship under York. BC captured four regular-season titles in five years from 2000-01 to 2004-05.
With its 5-3 win over Merrimack in last March's Hockey East championship game, Boston College earned its league-best 10th Hockey East Tournament title, including its eighth under York.
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.
2011-12 Hockey East Preseason Coaches' Poll Rank Team (First-Place Votes) Points 1. Boston College (7) 88 2. Boston University (3) 83 3. New Hampshire 72 4. Maine 64 5. Merrimack 61 6. Vermont 44 7. Massachusetts 42 8. Northeastern 33 9. UMass-Lowell 27 10. Providence 26
