Boston, ME – Last season, the University of Maine men’s hockey team missed the playoffs, finishing the season 13-18-3 and 9-15-3 in Hockey East.

Apparently, the rest of the Hockey East doesn’t believe the Black Bears will fair much better again this season. In the Hockey East men’s coaches poll, which was released this afternoon, Maine was ranked ninth.

Boston College was rank at the top followed by Boston University and New Hampshire.

The Black Bears will open their season on October 17 in Fairbanks, Alaska when they take on the University of Alaska-Anchorage at the Alaska Goal Rush Tournament. Maine will open their home schedule on October 24 against Northeastern.

Hockey East men’s preseason poll

1. Boston College, 86
2. Boston University, 80
3. New Hampshire, 78
4. Northeastern, 62
5. Vermont, 58
6. Massachusetts, 48
7. UMass-Lowell, 46
8. Providence, 34
9. Maine, 28
10. Merrimack, 20