LOWELL, Mass. – The UMass Lowell ice hockey team has been ranked No. 9 in the 2024-25 Hockey East Preseason Poll, as announced by the league office on Tuesday morning.
"Predictions are not something I've considered seriously in the past," said Head Coach
Norm Bazin. "However, it will be our job to prove people wrong. Last year is over and we're concentrating on improving and letting the games prove our worth. Our team is excited to compete in this ultra-competitive league where nothing is given."
The team received 40 points in this year's poll after a 2023-24 season that saw an 8-24-4 overall record and 4-17-3 Hockey East record. They sit 13 points above Merrimack College in the poll and just seven points behind eighth-ranked Connecticut.
The 2023-24 Hockey East regular season and tournament champion Boston College earned nine first-place votes and 109 points to take the top spot in this year's poll. Boston University is just behind them with 99 points and one first-place vote, while Providence received the final first-place vote to rank third with 88 points. Maine (83 points), Massachusetts (72 points) and Northeastern (67 points) round out the top six, while New Hampshire (58) and Connecticut (47) take the two spots above the River Hawks in seventh and eighth. Merrimack (27) and Vermont (25) close out the poll for 10th and 11th.
The River Hawks open the 2024-25 season in just under a month when they host Minnesota Duluth for a two-game set on October 11 and 12.
