Photo Credit: Mitchell Layton
Hockey East Release

BOSTON – The University of Vermont men’s hockey team was picked to finish fourth in the 2009-10 Hockey East Preseason Coaches’ Poll released today at Hockey East Media Day at the TD Garden in Boston, Mass. It’s the highest Hockey East preseason ranking for the Catamounts since joining the league.

The Catamounts went 22-12-5 in 2008-09 on the way to the Frozen Four and were ranked No. 3 in the final poll of the season. The No. 3 ranking was the highest final ranking in program history. Vermont was ranked 15th in the first USA Today/USA Hockey Poll of the 2009-10 season released earlier this week.

Defending national champion Boston University was selected first in the 2009-10 Hockey East Preseason Coaches’ Poll with six first-place votes and a total of 84 points. UMass-Lowell was picked second and earned two first-place votes and 79 points. Boston College was selected third with 76 points while Vermont and New Hampshire were tied for fourth with 59 points apiece. Northeastern (57 points), Massachusetts (47 points), Maine (32 points), Providence (24 points) and Merrimack (23 points) rounded out the 10-team preseason poll.

Over the last 17 years, Hockey East teams have won a total of six national championships and earned 27 of the 70 berths in the NCAA Frozen Four. The Catamounts open the season this Sunday at 4 p.m. against New Brunswick as part of a doubleheader with the UVM women’s hockey team who hosts McGill at 7 p.m. Sunday is Free UPS team poster day with a post game autograph session and fans are also encouraged to stay for the women's game for free with a men's ticket.

2009-10 Hockey East Preseason Coaches’ Poll
First-Place Votes in Parenthesis
1. Boston University (6) - 84
2. UMass-Lowell (2) - 79
3. Boston College (2) - 76
4. Vermont - 59
4. New Hampshire - 59
6. Northeastern - 57
7. Massachusetts - 47
8. Maine - 32
9. Providence - 24
10. Merrimack - 23