WAKEFIELD, Mass. – On Friday morning Hockey East announced its annual Preseason Coaches' Poll for men's and women's hockey. The Vermont women's team was selected to finish eighth overall while the Vermont men were selected 11th.
 
RELATED LINKS
Men's Release | Women's Release
Men's 2020-21 Schedule
Women's 2020-21 Schedule
 
After winning an NCAA-best 32 games last season three-time defending Hockey East champion Northeastern was selected to repeat as women's league champions with 90 points and nine first place votes. Boston University received the other first place vote and was chosen to finish second with 82 points. The Catamounts were selected eighth overall with 39 points.
 
The men's team was selected to finish 11th in the 2020-21 Preseason Coaches' Poll. After winning the regular season title last season Boston College was selected as the preseason favorite for the third straight season, receiving 95 points and eight first place votes. UMass and UMass Lowell received the other first place votes from the coaches.
 
Hockey East announced its full 2020-21 schedule on Wednesday, each of the 11 men's teams will play 20 league contests while the 10 women's programs will compete in 18 games that will count toward the final Army ROTC Hockey East Regular Season Standings to determine the 2020-21 Hockey East Regular Season Champion. Both the men's and women's schedules feature weekend home-and-home series and day-of-game travel, with the exception of games involving Maine and Vermont, to allow for consistent testing protocols throughout the season while adhering to all state guidelines.
 
While spectators will not be permitted at UVM, Hockey East will once again partner with NESN and ViacomCBS Digital to provide fans across the world the opportunity to view every single Hockey East game in the 2020-21 season. Today, Hockey East announced a slate of games that can be seen on NESN through January 1, as well as news that all other streamed games will be made available to fans for free on one of ViacomCBS Digital's platforms. Full television schedule details and How-To-Watch information about streamed games, as well as specific game times, will be announced in the coming days. Games broadcast by NESN will be blacked out on ViacomCBS Digital platforms in New England.
 
The Vermont men open the season on Friday, November 20 as they host UConn at 6 p.m. The voice of the Catamounts, Michael Lehr, will be on the call on AM-620 WVMT 96.3 FM. An hour later the Vermont women open their campaign at UConn. They will face Boston College in their home opener on Friday, November 27 at 6 p.m.
 
Windjammer is the presenting sponsor of Vermont women's hockey and Handy Toyota is the presenting sponsor of Vermont men's hockey.