2014-15 Hockey East Preseason Power Rankings

1. Providence College — A year after they made it to the East Regionals of the NCAA Tournament, the Friars appear primed for an even better 2014-15. For any team to be successful, it needs a stout goaltender, which Providence has in junior Jon Gillies. The 2014 Hockey East Preseason All-Conference Team selection for goalie holds the Friars’ all-time record in shutouts with eight and was also third in the conference last year with a .931 save percentage. Forward Ross Mauermann, another Hockey East Preseason All-Hockey East pick, will look to use his great two-way ability to be a force on both sides of the ice this season. With a deep roster and a strong presence between the pipes, the Friars are a well-rounded bunch that should be celebrating a conference title at TD Garden in March.

2. Boston College — Sophomore forward Ryan Fitzgerald tallied 29 points as a freshman last year and should make the leap in the 2014 season to help replace a trio of departing forwards in Johnny Gaudreau, Kevin Hayes and Bill Arnold. Freshman and USA Hockey National Team Development Program product Alex Tuch should be an immediate impact on the offensive end. However, if you talk about BC, you cannot forget the defense and goaltending. 2014 Second Team All-American recipient Michael Matheson will anchor a defense that returns six players. The one newcomer, Noah Hanifin, is projected to be a top-five pick in the 2015 NHL draft. With goaltender Thatcher Demko in net (9-1-1 record, 1.35 goals against average in Hockey East play last season), BC will be a force to reckon with.

3. Northeastern University — Northeastern shocked many last season when coach Jim Madigan’s squad finished with 19 wins and nearly made a push to the NCAA Tournament. This year, the Huskies are poised to jump in the standings again due to solid goaltending and a high-powered offense. A big part of the Huskies’ success a year ago was the play of 2014 Hobey Baker Award candidate Kevin Roy. The 5-foot-10-inch forward led the Huskies in points for the second consecutive year and was 12th in the nation in points per game (1.24). Coupled with Mike Szmatula, the offensive unit will be a dangerous scoring threat again. Clay Witt and his .932 save percentage from a season ago returns in net to back stop the Huskies defense.

4. Boston University — After a disappointing 2013-14 season, the Terriers are poised to make a jump up in the standings due to a solid returning core team and an impressive class of freshmen. Highly touted forwards Jack Eichel and A.J. Greer look to be breakout players out of the gate for the Terriers, while one of the conference’s worst offenses should improve with the return of junior Danny O’Regan and sophomore Robbie Baillargeon. A defensive unit that was beleaguered with injuries a season ago will have the benefit of a healthy Matt Grzelcyk and the additions of freshmen John MacLeod and Brandon Fortunato. For BU to stay at the top of Hockey East, netminder Matt O’Connor must step up as BU’s primary goalie.

5. University of Maine — Coach Red Gendron led a rebuilding Black Bears team to 16 wins during his first year on the bench in Orono, Maine. Forward Devin Shore tallied 43 points last season and earned an All-Hockey East preseason nod this year. Defenseman Ben Hutton, last year’s top goal-scoring defenseman in the country, will be back at the blue line. However, goaltender Martin Ouellette was lost to graduation, leaving a question mark in net for Maine.

6. University of Notre Dame — The Fighting Irish will have to rely on some younger players to step up this season, as the team graduated 11 seniors following the 2013-14 campaign. Juniors Vince Hinostroza and Mario Lucia will look to pick up the slack in the offensive end after solid sophomore campaigns. The Fighting Irish defense has also undergone a large overhaul with four incoming freshmen.

7. University of Massachusetts-Lowell — It will be a difficult task for the River Hawks to replicate their success from the 2013-14 season because goaltender and Mike Richter Award winner Connor Hellebuyck signed with the Winnipeg Jets, leaving coach Norm Bazin without a top-flight backstop. Forwards Joseph Pendenza and Derek Arnold graduated, lessening Lowell’s depth even further. Look for junior Adam Chapie, who finished second on the team in points a year ago, to emerge.

8. University of Vermont — The Catamounts won 20 games last season thanks to the play of forwards Chris McCarthy and then-freshman Mario Puskarich. McCarthy has since graduated, which leaves Puskarich — the 2013-14 Hockey East Rookie of the Year — in charge of the offense. However, without McCarthy’s presence, a middle-of-the-pack offense will likely remain the same in 2014-15 campaign. But a veteran defense with Michael Paliotta and junior goalie Brody Hoffman (2.11 goals-against average) should keep the Catamounts in close games.

9. University of New Hampshire — A force in the standings over the last two years, the Wildcats will suffer after losing top scorers Kevin Goumas and Nick Sorkin to graduation. Captain Matt Willows returns to the lineup, but an offensive unit that averaged 3.07 goals per game last season will likely see a drop in production.

10. Merrimack College — The Warriors finished last in Hockey East in scoring offense (1.88 goals per game) a year ago, and will have trouble getting out of the cellar this year without forward Mike Collins. With no returning skater tallying more than 14 points last season, Merrimack will have to hope that their defense and goaltender Rasmus Tirronen can step up and steal some games.

11. University of Massachusetts-Amherst — Coach John Micheletto’s team finished near the bottom in both offense (2.24 goals per game) and defense (3.12 goals allowed per game) last season. Steven Iacobellis recorded 21 points last year, which leads any returning forward. Senior Oleg Yevenko was eighth in the conference in blocked shots, and UMass can only hope he can do that again. Without Conor Sheary and Michael Pereira on special teams, the league’s second-ranked power play unit will not be as strong.

12. University of Connecticut — The newest member of the league will take its lumps in its first season in Hockey East play. None of UConn’s top-three point getters will be back on the ice this year, meaning forward Shawn Pauly will carry the offensive load. Netminder Rob Nichols comes back to UConn with a .939 save percentage from last year, but the Huskies will still likely have trouble adjusting to top-tier opponents in their new conference. This year will be one for the Huskies to get adjusted to the conference, but don’t be surprised if they make a successful jump within a few seasons.