UConn women's hockey picked first, men's hockey picked third in Hockey East Preseason Polls

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Hockey East released its annual preseason coaches’ polls and expectations are high for both of UConn’s hockey programs this season.

After winning the last two Hockey East Regular Season titles, UConn women’s hockey was picked first with 86 points and five first-place votes. That narrowly beat out Boston University, who totaled 82 points to go with five first-place votes as well. As for UConn men’s hockey, it came in at third — its highest mark ever in the league’s preseason poll.

Chris MacKenzie’s squad has set the bar in Hockey East over the last two seasons. In 2023-24, it put together its most successful campaign ever, winning the league regular season and tournament crowns while making its first NCAA Tournament appearance.

The Huskies will bring back reigning Hockey East Goaltender Tia Chan as well as rookie of the year Claire Murdoch, whose 29 points led the team last season. They feature a veteran-laden roster with upperclassmen accounting for 15 of the 25 players.

As for the Ice Bus, they’re coming off the best season in program history. The Huskies made the NCAA Tournament for the first time ever and came up one goal short of reaching the Frozen Four.

While they lost a few key pieces — most notably Hudson Schandor, John Spetz and Callum Tung — they return a strong core that features the likes of forwards Joey Muldowney (his 29 goals last year were second-most nationally), Jake Richard (15-28—43) and Ryan Tattle (18-14—32), defensemen Tom Messineo (+19, best among blue liners) and Viking Gustafsson Nyberg (62 blocks, 11 points), as well as goaltender Tyler Muszelik (2.28 GAA, .914 save percentage).

The rest of the women’s poll had Northeastern in third followed by Boston College, Providence, New Hampshire, Maine and Vermont in a tie for seventh, Holy Cross and Merrimack. On the men’s side, Boston University topped the poll followed by Providence, UConn, Maine, Boston College, UMass, UMass Lowell and Northeastern in a tie for seventh, Merrimack, UNH and Vermont.

UConn women’s hockey will kick off 2025-26 with an exhibition at Quinnipiac on Saturday, Sept. 20 at 3 p.m. before beginning the regular season in earnest at home vs. St. Cloud State on Friday, Sept. 26 at 6 p.m. ET. Mike Cavanaugh’s team will begin on the road at Colorado College on Friday, Oct. 3 and doesn’t play on home ice until Friday, Oct. 17 when it hosts Ohio State at Toscano Family Ice Forum.

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