Hockey East Poll released...

How the mighty have fallen: I saw this story in the Boston Globe, I would predict if the Black Bears finish that low again this year they will have a coaching Change, the Black Bears are only one season removed from going to the Frozen Four before bowing out to the eventual NCAA champion.

Maine tabbed No. 9 in Hockey East poll--- September 29, 2008
The University of Maine hockey team has been picked to finish ninth in the Hockey East conference in this year's preseason coaches poll.

The poll was released Monday at the Hockey East media day at TD Banknorth Garden in Boston.

Boston College was picked to finish first in the conference, followed by Boston University, New Hampshire and Northeastern.

Vermont was picked to come in fifth, followed by Massachusetts, UMass-Lowell, Providence and Maine. Merrimack was picked to come in last.

The Black Bears missed the Hockey East playoffs last year for the first time since 1998.

Of course on the flip side of that equation the Boston College Eagles have been picked to finish first in Hockey East. Way to go out on a limb there.

Defending NCAA champ BC tops preseason Hockey East poll
September 30, 2008 --- Defending NCAA men's national champion Boston College received six first-place votes and 86 points yesterday to edge Boston University atop the Hockey East preseason poll, the conference announced at media day at TD Banknorth Garden.

The Eagles, who earned the nation's No. 1 preseason ranking according to the USA Today/USA Hockey Magazine poll released last week, return 15 letter men from last season's 25-win club.

Joe Whitney and Ben Smith, the second- and third-leading Hockey East scorers, and goalie John Muse (25-11-8 in his freshman season) are back for BC, which opens its season Oct. 10 against Wisconsin at Conte Forum.

This is how it looks on paper

1. B.C.
2. B.U.
3. UNH
4. Northeastern
5. UVM
6. UMass
7. UMass-Lowell
8. Providence
9. Maine
10. Merrimack