Four Hockey East schools are in the top 15 of the Preseason USCHO Division 1 Poll that was released Monday afternoon.
Minnesota Duluth, the defending NCAA champion, starts the year as the No. 4 ranked team in the country. The Bulldogs are followed by three Big Ten teams in Notre Dame, Ohio State and Michigan.
Providence is the top ranked team from New England, coming in at No. 5. The Friars lost their top two forwards, Brian Pinho (North Andover, Mass.) and Erik Foley (Mansfield, Mass.), from last year’s team. However, head coach Nate Leaman returns a solid nucleus and brings in one of the most talented freshman classes in school history. Former Thayer star and Hingham, Mass., native Jay O’Brien, a first-round pick of the Philadelphia Flyers, leads the way for the group of rookies.
Buffalo Sabres prospect Jacob Bryson heads up the defense and Montreal Canadiens draft pick Hayden Hawkey will man the crease. Minnesota Wild pick Brandon Duhaime, Pittsburgh Penguins pick Kasper Bjorkqvist, Josh Wilkins and Scott Conway are the top returners up front.
Boston University, under first-year head coach Albie O’Connell, was ranked No. 8. BU also lost some key pieces, namely forwards Brady Tkachuk and Jordan Greenway, who both turned pro early. Freshman Joel Farabee, also a first-round pick of the Flyers, and junior Shane Bowers, another former first-round pick, will lead the offense.
The Terriers' defense will be led by Nashville Predators prospect Dante Fabbro and Chicago Blackhawks prospect Chad Krys of Ridgefield, Conn. In goal, Jake Oettinger, a first-round pick of the Dallas Stars, should be a difference maker after an up-and-down sophomore season.
Ranked No. 12, Boston College is the third New England team in the preseason poll. The Eagles will be led by junior goaltender Joseph Woll, property of the Toronto Maple Leafs. Quincy, Mass., native Oliver Wahlstrom, a first-round pick of the New York Islanders, could be the best freshman in college hockey. He could be a huge boost in the goal scoring department.
Veterans Casey Fitzgerald and Michael Kim will man the blue line, while the addition of St. Lawrence transfer Ben Finkelstein, a Florida Panthers prospect from Burlington, Vt., at the semester break will provide a spark.
Northeastern, coming off two NCAA Tournament appearances over the last three years and the school’s first Beanpot since 1988, is ranked No. 15. The Huskies have the unenviable task of trying to find offense without Adam Gaudette, Dylan Sikura and Nolan Stevens. Montreal Canadiens prospect Cayden Primeau will have to be up to the task between the pipes. New Jersey Devils prospect Jeremy Davies is one of the top puck-moving defensemen in college hockey.
Head coach Jim Madigan will look to Carolina Hurricanes prospect Matt Filipe (Lynnfield, Mass.) and sophomore Zach Solow to take a step up in their production. Another Canadiens prospect, defenseman Jordan Harris of Haverhill, Mass., is one of the top rookie defensemen coming into Hockey East.
The 2018-19 Hockey East Preseason Coaches Poll will be released next Monday in conjunction with the league’s annual media day luncheon.
