RinkWise podcast: Biggest storylines to watch in men’s college hockey

Matt Copponi had 29 points for Merrimack this past season. (Richard T. Gagnon/Getty Images)

It’s not an over-exaggeration: The New England men’s college hockey scene is going to be outstanding this season.

The Boston University-Boston College rivalry is hot. Macklin Celebrini, the popular pick to be taken No. 1 overall in the 2024 NHL Draft, will be playing in the region. A good number of others have a legitimate chance at winning the Hobey Baker Award — given annually to the best player in college hockey — come the end of the season.

Not to mention the number of teams outside of BU, BC and Merrimack — the top three preseason teams in Hockey East — that have shots at getting national recognition.

Oh, and Quinnipiac, the reigning national champs, will look to defend its title.

On the latest RinkWise episode, host Stephanie Wood and editor Evan Marinofsky (Framingham, Mass.) previewed the upcoming season of men’s college hockey.

On a sleeper pick in Hockey East

Marinofsky: “My team I think that’s going to be battling for the No. 4 or No. 5 spot — I don’t know if other people also feel the same way — is Maine. I think Maine is going to be a really good sleeper. I’m really sticking with this. This is my big men’s hockey prediction. I think Maine is going to be legit this year. …They had Lynden Breen and Ben Poisson return, who are two of their top offensive guys. Breen led all of Hockey East in goals last year. Victor Ostman is back — one of the top goalies in Hockey East.”

On Merrimack’s ascendance in Hockey East

Marinofsky: “Merrimack is three [in Hockey East]. Merrimack is a strong team. They almost won Hockey East last year, they got to the national tournament and have a lot of returning guys. They have the same goaltending duo of Hugo Ollas and Zachary Borgiel. You’ve got Alex Jefferies (Lunenburg, Mass.) and Matt Copponi (Mansfield, Mass.) up front. To me, that’s a team. And they’re not really the underdog anymore. They were last year. But I think this year, they have real expectations.”

The RinkWise podcast can be streamed here and on major platforms, such as Apple Podcasts and Spotify.