The Boston University men's hockey team was ranked 14th in the preseason USA Today/USA Hockey Magazine poll.
The Terriers received 69 points, placing them fourth among Hockey East teams. Boston College was ranked first with 504 points, the University of Maine seventh with 281 and the University of New Hampshire eighth with 206. Three other HE teams received votes without cracking the top 15 &- the University of Vermont (28), Northeastern University (14) and Merrimack College (2).
BU's first opponent of the regular season -- the University of Wisconsin -- was ranked 13th with 115 points. The University of Notre Dame, whom the Terriers could face on the second day of the season-opening Warrior Ice Breaker Tournament, received 43 votes and missed the top 15 by one spot.
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The Boston University women's hockey team was ranked No. 6 in the nation in USCHO.com's preseason poll released Monday.
This is the first time the Terriers have begun the season with a national ranking, in what will be their sixth season as a varsity program. They finished last season at No. 8 following their first-ever Hockey East championship and subsequent NCAA tournament berth.
The jump in the rankings is no doubt a result of the team's returning stars - BU brings back seven of its top eight scorers from a year ago - and its highly touted newcomers, who include Olympic champions in Marie-Philip Poulin and Catherine Ward and a former Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award finalist in Jenn Wakefield.
The Terriers, who had been ranked first in the HE
preseason coaches' poll, received the highest ranking among HE teams. Boston College was placed at No. 9 while the University of New Hampshire, who finished last season at No. 7, and Providence College are tied for the No. 10 spot. Defending NCAA champion University of Minnesota-Duluth nabbed the top spot, receiving 14 out of 15 possible votes.</p>
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