The University of Maine, which won its first Hockey East title since 2004 last season, was picked to finish fourth in the preseason coaches poll.
Boston University, which reached the national championship game, was picked to finish first with 105 points, including seven first-place votes. Providence was second with 91 (three first-place votes), followed by UConn (90) and Maine (87, one first-place vote). Boston College was picked fifth.
The Black Bears went 24-8-6 last season and finished second in the regular season in Hockey East with a 13-5-6 record. They earned a No. 1 seed in the NCAA tournament but lost in the first round to Penn State.
The Black Bears will face New Hampshire in a scrimmage at Bowdoin College in Brunswick on Oct. 3 before opening the season at home with a pair of games against Holy Cross on Oct. 10-11.
Comments are not available on this story. Read more about why we allow commenting on some stories and not on others.
We believe it's important to offer commenting on certain stories as a benefit to our readers. At its best, our comments sections can be a productive platform for readers to engage with our journalism, offer thoughts on coverage and issues, and drive conversation in a respectful, solutions-based way. It's a form of open discourse that can be useful to our community, public officials, journalists and others.
We do not enable comments on everything — exceptions include most crime stories, and coverage involving personal tragedy or sensitive issues that invite personal attacks instead of thoughtful discussion.
You can read more here about our commenting policy and terms of use. More information is also found on our FAQs.
Show less