Comment on UMaine men’s hockey team picked 10th among 11 teams in Hockey East coaches poll

The Hockey East coaches may feel that first-year head coach Ben Barr is going to turn the University of Maine’s hockey program into a consistent winner again. But they definitely don’t think it is going to happen this season. The Black Bears were picked to finish 10th in the 11-team league in the coaches’ annual preseason poll announced on Monday. Only Vermont was picked below the Black Bears, who have two NCAA championships, 11 Frozen Fours and 18 NCAA Tournament appearances on their lifetime resume. Defending national champion UMass is the favorite, garnering 107 points and eight first-place votes.