Hockey East well-represented in first national poll

Providence College defenseman Jacob Bryson. (Stew Milne/Providence Athletics)

Four Hockey East schools are in the top 15 of the Preseason USCHO Division 1 Poll that was released Monday afternoon.

Minnesota Duluth, the defending NCAA champion, starts the year as the No. 4 ranked team in the country. The Bulldogs are followed by three Big Ten teams in Notre Dame, Ohio State and Michigan.

Providence is the top ranked team from New England, coming in at No. 5. The Friars lost their top two forwards, Brian Pinho (North Andover, Mass.) and Erik Foley (Mansfield, Mass.), from last year’s team. However, head coach Nate Leaman returns a solid nucleus and brings in one of the most talented freshman classes in school history.