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.