We're closing in on the start of the season and polls have been posted:
Hockey East:
Coaches poll: BC, BU, Providence, Lowell, Northeastern, UNH, Notre Dame, Vermont, Connecticut, Maine, Merrimack, UMass
Media poll: BC, BU, Lowell, Providence, Notre Dame, Vermont, Northeastern, UNH, Connecticut, Merrimack, Maine, UMass (this is how I'd rank them, maybe with Connecticut a bit lower)
USCHO: BC #1, BU #3, Providence #7, Harvard #8, UML #14; Notre Dame, Northeastern, Vermont, and UNH all receiving votes.
I'm surprised BC's ranked #1 in the country. I would pick them in Hockey East mostly because of their advantage in net with Demko back, but they've got some holes on the blue line that guys like Santini and the freshmen will have to fill.
Northeastern at #5 strikes me as too high since the defense hasn't been a strength and now goaltending is a question mark with Clay Witt gone. Kevin Roy's Hobey Baker campaign should be a lot of fun though. Can't wait to get going here soon.
Hockey East:
Coaches poll: BC, BU, Providence, Lowell, Northeastern, UNH, Notre Dame, Vermont, Connecticut, Maine, Merrimack, UMass
Media poll: BC, BU, Lowell, Providence, Notre Dame, Vermont, Northeastern, UNH, Connecticut, Merrimack, Maine, UMass (this is how I'd rank them, maybe with Connecticut a bit lower)
USCHO: BC #1, BU #3, Providence #7, Harvard #8, UML #14; Notre Dame, Northeastern, Vermont, and UNH all receiving votes.
I'm surprised BC's ranked #1 in the country. I would pick them in Hockey East mostly because of their advantage in net with Demko back, but they've got some holes on the blue line that guys like Santini and the freshmen will have to fill.
Northeastern at #5 strikes me as too high since the defense hasn't been a strength and now goaltending is a question mark with Clay Witt gone. Kevin Roy's Hobey Baker campaign should be a lot of fun though. Can't wait to get going here soon.