▸ 1. BOSTON UNIVERSITY | With a trio of 30-point scorers returning, an ace goalie in Jake Oettinger and five freshmen drafted in June, early departures to the NHL shouldn’t hurt the Terriers.
▸ 2. HARVARD | The Crimson were a complete bunch last year, broke a long Beanpot drought and won their second ECAC title in three years. You can bet that Frozen Four loss is a definite motivator in Cambridge.
▸ 3. PROVIDENCE | If the second half of last season is any indication, it’ll be a real fun year in Friartown. Nate Leaman’s young team won 22 games and made NCAAs, and now they’re experienced. Watch out.
▸ 4. QUINNIPIAC | Rand Pecknold has set a high bar, so a fifth-place league finish and no NCAA bid won’t cut it. They’re still the region’s second-best ECAC team, even after losing five double-digit scorers and some key defensemen.
▸ 5. UMASS-LOWELL | Reigning Hockey East champion River Hawks lose quite a bit of scoring, but they’ll always be in contention with Norm Bazin at the helm.
▸ 6. NORTHEASTERN | Adam Gaudette, Dylan Sikura and Nolan Stevens are three of Hockey East’s top returners. Scoring shouldn’t be an issue in good ol’ Matthews Arena.
▸ 7. BOSTON COLLEGE | Jerry York’s club lost five seniors and Colin White to the pros early, but goaltender Joseph Woll can steal games.
▸ 8. VERMONT | Cats’ depth will be tested with top scoring losses. Stefanos Lekkas is back after winning the goalie job as a rookie.
▸ 9. MASSACHUSETTS | No. 4 overall pick Cale Makar is one of two drafted freshmen giving the Minutemen a much-needed boost on defense. The Amherst bunch is improved in Greg Carvel’s second year.
▸ 10. YALE | The Elis were just average, and now they have some holes with John Hayden and Frankie DiChiara graduated. Defense is intact, but two-time leading scorer Joe Snively will need to carry the load as secondary offense develops.
▸ 11. CONNECTICUT | Though a pretty experienced team, the Huskies will need their past role players to take on more responsibility. Six draft picks dot the roster, so talent exists at all three positions.
▸ 12. NEW HAMPSHIRE | The best players on both ends of the ice are gone, but enough is left in the cupboard to make Dick Umile’s final campaign behind the bench in Durham a positive one.
▸ 13. MERRIMACK | Brett Seney and Johnathan Kovacevic are two standouts for the Warriors, who move on without goaltender Collin Delia and a pair of key scorers. Another season of solid balance in the lineup will be key to compete in Hockey East.
▸ 14. MAINE | There is work to do in Orono with two key pieces to the offense gone. Some youngsters showed well, but they’ll need to make big strides.
▸ 15. HOLY CROSS | The boys from Worcester were swept from the Atlantic Hockey playoffs after seeing their league win total dip, but losing just one contributor (Mike Barrett) to graduation is good news.
▸ 16. BROWN | Two sides of Providence, two different stories. The Bears’ top six scorers are back, but they’ll have to improve upon a minus-2.13 goal differential that was by far the nation’s worst.
▸ 17. BENTLEY | Falcons finished eighth in the AHA last year, but strong sophomores, two capable goaltenders and a new on-campus rink set to open in January are all reasons for optimism.
▸ 18. DARTMOUTH | Another team that has a load of young players with experience. Only one of the Green’s top five returning scorers was an upperclassman last season.
▸ 19. SACRED HEART | Four freshmen scored more than 10 points last year. They’ll have to take a big jump as the Pioneers look to replace four of their top five scorers, including standout defenseman Mitch Nylen.
▸ 20. AIC | The Yellow Jackets look to make strides in Atlantic Hockey with a second-year coach and youthful returning cast.
