Boston College Athletics
Photo by: John Quackenbos
Eagles Edge Providence as Hockey East Preseason Favorite
October 01, 2018 | Men's Hockey
BC picked as favorite for the first time since 2015
BOSTON – Boston College edged out Providence by one point and one first-place vote as the favorite in Hockey East this season, according to the Preseason Coaches' Poll released on Monday at the league's annual media day at TD Garden.
The Eagles were selected as the preseason favorite for the first time since 2015. Last year, BC was picked to finish fourth but went on to capture its league-record 16th regular season championship and third straight with a 18-6-0 record.
Boston College received half of a possible 10 first-place votes and accumulated 93 points, while Providence garnered four first-place votes and 92 points (coaches are not allowed to vote for their own squad). Boston University (84 points) and Northeastern (66 points) each picked up a first-place vote and secured the third and fourth spots in the poll.
Maine (61), UMass (56), and UMass Lowell (52) were separated by less than 10 points in fifth, sixth, and seventh respectively. UConn was picked to clinch the final quarterfinal spot in eighth place, while New Hampshire (26), Vermont (19), and Merrimack (15) rounded out the 11-team poll.
The Eagles' 2018-19 roster features 26 players, including 21 returners who accounted for 95-percent of the team's 2017-18 scoring, all but four goals, and every minute played in net. Oliver Wahlstrom, the 11th overall pick in the 2018 NHL Draft, leads a talented group of five freshmen joining the mix in the Class of 2022.
Looking for its 10th straight 20-win campaign, BC begins its 97th season of hockey this Saturday (Oct. 6) against New Brunswick at Conte Forum with faceoff scheduled for 7 p.m.
HOCKEY EAST PRESEASON COACHES' POLL
The Eagles were selected as the preseason favorite for the first time since 2015. Last year, BC was picked to finish fourth but went on to capture its league-record 16th regular season championship and third straight with a 18-6-0 record.
Boston College received half of a possible 10 first-place votes and accumulated 93 points, while Providence garnered four first-place votes and 92 points (coaches are not allowed to vote for their own squad). Boston University (84 points) and Northeastern (66 points) each picked up a first-place vote and secured the third and fourth spots in the poll.
Maine (61), UMass (56), and UMass Lowell (52) were separated by less than 10 points in fifth, sixth, and seventh respectively. UConn was picked to clinch the final quarterfinal spot in eighth place, while New Hampshire (26), Vermont (19), and Merrimack (15) rounded out the 11-team poll.
The Eagles' 2018-19 roster features 26 players, including 21 returners who accounted for 95-percent of the team's 2017-18 scoring, all but four goals, and every minute played in net. Oliver Wahlstrom, the 11th overall pick in the 2018 NHL Draft, leads a talented group of five freshmen joining the mix in the Class of 2022.
Looking for its 10th straight 20-win campaign, BC begins its 97th season of hockey this Saturday (Oct. 6) against New Brunswick at Conte Forum with faceoff scheduled for 7 p.m.
HOCKEY EAST PRESEASON COACHES' POLL
| Rank | Team (1st Place) | Pts |
| 1. | Boston College (5) | 93 |
| 2. | Providence (4) | 92 |
| 3. | Boston University (1) | 84 |
| 4. | Northeastern (1) | 66 |
| 5. | Maine | 61 |
| 6. | Massachusetts | 56 |
| 7. | UMass Lowell | 52 |
| 8. | UConn | 41 |
| 9. | New Hampshire | 26 |
| 10. | Vermont | 19 |
| 11. | Merrimack | 15 |
Players Mentioned
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