Boston College Picked First in Hockey East Preseason Polls

Boston College has been chosen to finish in first place in Hockey East in the regular season in both the men’s and women’s divisions, as voted on by the league’s coaches.

According to the Hockey East web site(s), the BC men were selected to finish first in their preseason poll by a total of 115 points, including seven of the 12 first-place votes. The BC women were tabbed to finish first with 64 points, including eight of the nine first-place votes.

The BC men were also picked to finish first in the annual poll of the league's media, according to USCHO.com.

The Eagle men's squad, which went 21-14-3 overall last season and made the NCAA Tournament, opens its 2015-16 season with an exhibition contest against visiting New Brunswick on Oct. 3 at Conte Forum. The Eagle women's team, which opens with an exhibition tomorrow night against visiting Guelph, went 34-3-2 overall a year ago and made the NCAA Frozen Four for the third time in six seasons.

ADDENDUM: It was just announced at USCHO.com and other outlets that the BC men's team will face North Dakota at Madison Square Garden in New York City on Dec. 3, 2016, in the "College Hockey Showdown."

Former BU Blueliner Whitney Retires

Former Boston University defenseman Ryan Whitney has called it a career at age 32.

According to NHL.com, Whitney hangs up his skates after 10 NHL seasons and 481 regular-season games with Pittsburgh, Anaheim, Edmonton and Florida. In all he tallied 50 goals and 209 assists to go with 383 penalty minutes, according to HockeyDB.com. He announced on Twitter that part of the reason he was retiring was ankle injuries.

A product of the U.S. National Team Development Program, the Boston native skated for BU from 2001 to 2004. He notched 16-43—59 points and 150 PIM in 107 career outings with the Terriers, and also helped them to two Beanpot Tournament titles and two NCAA Tournament berths.

Whitney skated with Sochi HC (KHL) in Russia last season, recording 6-13—19 points in 42 appearances. He played his final two professional games this season with MODO Hockey Ornskoldsvik in Sweden, and was a member of the silver-medal U.S. squad at the 2010 Olympic Winter Games in Vancouver.

ISS Ranks Top 30 NCAA Freshmen

The list of this year's top NCAA Division I men's hockey freshmen has been released by ISS Hockey, according to College Hockey Inc. ISS is considered to be the top independent scouting source and information provider of amateur hockey prospects.

The full list can be found here.

A total of 16 schools are represented on the 2015-16 list, with North Dakota leading the way with five selections and Michigan with four, followed by Boston College, Boston University, Connecticut and Minnesota with three choices each. Also having at least one player on the list were Denver, Harvard, Massachusetts, Miami, New Hampshire, Notre Dame, Omaha, Providence and Wisconsin.

All but three of the 30 players named have already been drafted by NHL teams. Topping the list is Boston College forward Colin White, who was drafted by the Ottawa Senators and is one of eight players who skated with the U.S. National Team Development Program (USHL) last season. Four of the top six selections have USNTDP ties, including Kyle Connor (2nd overall/Michigan), Jeremy Bracco (4th/Boston College), Jack Roslovic (5th/Miami) and Jordan Greenway (6th/Boston University), while 25 of the 30 players last played in the USHL.

No less than 22 players on the list were forwards, including the top eight selections and nine of the top 10. They were followed by seven defensemen in all, plus one goaltender in North Dakota’s Matej Tomek, who was tabbed ninth overall. Ottawa and the Winnipeg Jets featured three selections apiece overall to lead all NHL clubs, while six NHL teams had two choices each.

Remembering Mark Bavis: Sept. 11, 2001

Just going to re-post this one again—Mark would have been 45 this year. Rest in peace, bud.

Ice Back in at BC's Kelley Rink

The ice surface appears to be up and running at Kelley Rink at Boston College, according to Twitter.

This is probably the earliest I've heard of the ice being put down in Chestnut Hill—usually the wait was until at least mid-September, but guess BC couldn't wait to get those new boards and glass installed, replacing the original ones that had been in place since Conte Forum opened in 1988.

Just 34 days until the Eagles' 2015-16 NCAA opener at Army.