Sept. 30, 2009

Boston College men's hockey has been picked to finish third in the 2009-10 league regular-season standings, according to the Hockey East Coaches' Poll released at the annual media day held at TD Garden on Wednesday.

Boston University was chosen as the preseason favorite to capture the league title. It received six first-place votes and 84 points. UMass-Lowell received two first-place votes and 79 points, narrowly edging BC, which also earned two votes for first place and 76 total points. New Hampshire and Vermont were picked fourth with 59 points apiece.

Boston College posted an 11-11-5 record in Hockey East play in 2008-09. The Eagles finished sixth in last season's regular-season standings and advanced to the league tournament semifinals.

BC returns 14 letterwinners - nine forwards, three defensemen and two goaltenders - from last winter's club that finished the season with an 18-14-5 record. Head coach Jerry York, now in his 16th season behind the Eagles' bench, welcomes 10 newcomers - five forwards, four defensemen and one goaltender - to the 2009-10 team.

BC's season gets underway on Sunday, Oct. 18 at Vermont.

2009-10 HOCKEY EAST MEN'S PRESEASON POLL
	Rank 	Team (First-Place Votes) 	Pts.
	1. 	Boston University (6) 	        84
	2. 	UMass-Lowell (2) 	        79
	3. 	Boston College (2) 	        76
	4. 	New Hampshire 	                59
		Vermont 	                59
	6. 	Northeastern 	                57
	7. 	Massachusetts 	                47
	8. 	Maine 	                        32
	9. 	Providence 	                24
	10. 	Merrimack 	                23