It should be another electric season on the ice
On Sunday, the 2024 preseason media poll for men’s Hockey East was released, and it was dominated by the Boston College Eagles. After BC dominated BU last season to claim the 2024 Hockey East title, the Eagles have been selected to repeat their claim on the top of the conference. They were picked by 14/15 Hockey East media members as the best team heading into this upcoming season, with the lone dissenter voting for Boston University.
2024-25 Hockey East Media Poll
1. Boston College (14) 164
2. Boston University (1) 146
3. Maine 125
4. Providence 113
5. Massachusetts 110
6. Northeastern 94
7. New Hampshire 73
8. Connecticut 54
9. Merrimack 45
10. Vermont 34
11. Massachusetts-Lowell 32
(1/2)— Mike Machnik (@MikeMachnikCHN) September 8, 2024
The media members also voted on the top players in the conference, and it should come as no surprise that BC dominated that poll as well. Of the six slots on the preseason all-Hockey East team, four of the players are from Boston College: forwards Ryan Leonard & Gabe Perreault, defenseman Eamon Powell, and goaltender Jacob Fowler. BC is unmatched when it comes to top-end talent in Hockey East.
(2/2) 2024-25 Hockey East Media Poll All-HE Team
F Ryan Leonard (So., Boston College)
F Josh Nadeau (So., Maine)
F Gabe Perreault (So., Boston College)
D Eamon Powell (Gr., Boston College)
D Tom Willander (So., Boston University)
G Jacob Fowler (So., Boston College) https://t.co/AqBVFzNYC4— Mike Machnik (@MikeMachnikCHN) September 8, 2024
This player poll doesn’t even reflect the fact that BC is bringing in probably the best freshman in the country, James Hagens, who is predicted to be the #1 overall pick in the 2025 NHL Draft. Despite the loss of Cutter Gauthier and Will Smith to the NHL, Boston College men’s hockey is running it back with a crew that has a lot of huge talent, including a few other new freshmen (Teddy Stiga, Dean Letourneau, Will Skahan) that will help to bring them back to the level of play they were at last season.
With such an amazing group of players coming to the Heights this fall, expectations are once again through the roof. Ryan Leonard, Gabe Perreault, and even Jacob Fowler or James Hagens will be contending for the Hobey Baker award, while Boston College will be going full throttle to try to win a Beanpot, another Hockey East championship, and seek vengeance for their loss in last season’s NCAA title game.