MEN’S HOCKEY TABBED FOURTH IN HOCKEY EAST PRESEASON COACHES’ POLL/TELEVISION SCHEDULE ANNOUNCED

BOSTON – The University of New Hampshire men’s hockey team was picked to finish tied for fourth in the Hockey East preseason Coaches’ Poll, which was announced on Wednesday afternoon at the league’s annual media day at Legends Restaurant at the TD Garden.

The Wildcats garnered 59 points in the poll, which was good enough for a fourth-place tie with Vermont. UNH was picked third, in the preseason, and finished tied with Vermont for third place in last year’s regular season standings.

The Wildcats return 17 players from a team that captured 20 wins and advanced to the NCAA Northeast Regional finals a year ago. Among those returnees are Hockey East Honorable Mention netminder Brian Foster (Pembroke, N.H.) and three 30-point scores in Mike Sislo (Superior, Wis.), Peter LeBlanc (Hamilton, Ontario) and Bobby Butler (Marlboro, Mass.).

New Hampshire opens the 2009-10 season on Saturday, Oct. 3 in an exhibition game against Acadia University. Game time is 7 p.m. at the Whittemore Center.

2009-10 HOCKEY EAST MEN’S PRESEASON POLL

Rk. Team (FPV) 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

Additionally, Hockey East announced the composite television schedule and the Wildcats will appear on television nine times.

2009-10 UNH TELEVISION SCHEDULE
Oct. 23 Northeastern at New Hampshire NESN 7pm
Nov. 6 Boston College at New Hampshire NESN 7pm
Nov. 8 New Hampshire at UMass-Lowell ESPNU 5pm
Dec. 6 New Hampshire at Vermont ESPNU 3pm
Dec. 11 New Hampshire at Providence Cox-TV 7pm
Jan. 3 Cornell at New Hampshire ESPNU 3pm
Feb. 6 New Hampshire at Maine WABI-TV 7pm
Feb. 19 Vermont at New Hampshire NESN 7:30pm
March 5 Boston College at New Hampshire NESN 7:30pm