Hockey East: The Powerhouse Conference Reloads for 2025-26

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The 2025-26 college hockey season is set to deliver another thrilling chapter in Hockey East history. Fresh off a campaign that saw the conference send a significant contingent of teams to the NCAA Tournament—including one to the Frozen Four—the league looks poised to remain one of the nation’s elite. While top-tier programs face the annual challenge of replenishing rosters lost to the professional ranks, the depth of talent returning and arriving via recruiting and the transfer portal suggests another tight race for the coveted Commissioner’s Cup.

The Favorites: BU Poised for a Run, Providence Emerges

The consensus preseason pick to lead the pack is the Boston University Terriers (BU). Despite a heartbreaking loss in last year’s NCAA title game, Coach Jay Pandolfo’s squad is stocked with high-end talent and experience.

The Star Power: BU boasts one of the nation’s most exciting young cores. Sophomore defenseman Cole Hutson returns after leading all NCAA blueliners in scoring with 48 points, and sharpshooter Cole Eiserman, a first-round NHL draft pick, is back to terrorize goaltenders. The addition of transfer forward Sacha Boisvert from North Dakota, a former NCHC Rookie of the Year, adds a major boost to the offense.
Goaltending Stability: Goaltender Mikhail Yegorov settled into the starter role mid-season and posted a stellar save percentage. A full year as the undisputed No. 1 makes the Terriers’ backbone incredibly strong.

Right on their heels, the Providence Friars have been picked second in the preseason coaches’ poll. Coach Nate Leaman has quietly built a roster with arguably the best blend of returning experience and incoming talent.

Elite Freshman: The biggest story for the Friars is the arrival of forward Roger McQueen, the 10th overall pick in the 2025 NHL Draft by the Anaheim Ducks. He is expected to be an immediate impact player.
Depth and Goaltending: Senior netminder Philip Svedeback and a strong returning core of NHL draft picks, including the sophomore line of John Mustard and Logan Sawyer, make Providence a legitimate national threat.

The Contenders: Loaded with Potential

The battle for home-ice advantage and a top seed in the Hockey East Tournament will be fierce, with several other programs expected to challenge the top two.

UConn Huskies: Ready for a Breakthrough

The Connecticut Huskies finished just one win shy of their first-ever Frozen Four appearance last season and return almost all of their top talent. Preseason predictions have them solidly in the top four.

Offensive Firepower: Led by junior forward Joey Muldowney, the league’s second-leading scorer last year, and junior Jake Richard, the Huskies have a high-octane offense.
Veteran Presence: Senior goalie Tyler Muszelik provides veteran stability in net, making UConn a strong dark horse contender for the league title.

Maine Black Bears: Defending Champs Reload

The reigning Hockey East Tournament champions, the Maine Black Bears, look to continue their ascent under Coach Ben Barr.

Backbone of the Team: Maine’s identity will once again be built around stellar junior goaltender Albin Boija ( $.928$ SV%, $1.82$ GAA) and an anchored defensive corps.
New Faces: The Black Bears have heavily emphasized recruiting from the Canadian junior leagues, bringing in players like freshman forward Justin Poirier to offset the loss of last year’s top scorers. If the new faces gel quickly, Maine will be a dangerous team once again.

Boston College Eagles: The Talent Drain Challenge

The Boston College Eagles, who secured a No. 1 overall seed last season, face the toughest reload job in the conference.

Major Departures: BC saw significant talent head to the NHL, including their top two scorers, Gabe Perreault and Ryan Leonard, and Mike Richter Award-winning goalie Jacob Fowler.
Next Man Up: The offense will rely on the progression of sophomore James Hagens (Boston Bruins, 7th overall pick) and senior Andre Gasseau.
Goaltending Question: The key to BC’s season will be the performance of the new No. 1 goaltender, likely junior Jan Korec, who must prove he can handle a full-time starter’s workload.

Players to Watch: The Conference’s Elite

Player	Position	Class	Team	NHL Draft	Key Statistic (Last Season)
Cole Hutson	D	Sophomore	Boston University	Capitals 2nd Rd, 2024	48 points (Led all NCAA D-men)
Cole Eiserman	F	Sophomore	Boston University	Islanders 1st Rd, 2024	25 goals (Team Leader)
Roger McQueen	F	Freshman	Providence	Ducks 1st Rd, 2025	Highly-touted 10th overall pick
Joey Muldowney	F	Junior	UConn	Undrafted	29 goals, 47 points (2nd in HEA scoring)
Michael Hrabal	G	Junior	UMass	Coyotes 2nd Rd, 2023	19 wins, .924 SV%
James Hagens	F	Sophomore	Boston College	Bruins 1st Rd, 2025	37 points, +21 rating
Albin Boija	G	Junior	Maine	Undrafted	.928 SV%, 1.82 GAA

Standings Prediction and Tournament Outlook

The depth of Hockey East makes predicting the standings a perilous exercise, but the early signs point to the same cast of heavyweights competing for the top spots and a trip to the NCAA Tournament.

Predicted Finish	Team	Key Storyline
1.	Boston University	Best blend of high-end youth, experienced defense, and elite goaltending.
2.	Providence College	The addition of top-10 NHL pick Roger McQueen makes their offense explosive.
3.	UConn	Veteran core and returning scorers are poised to break through to the Frozen Four.
4.	Maine	Defensive strength anchored by Albin Boija and a high-impact import class.
5.	Boston College	Talent remains, but the new goaltender must stabilize the team after massive losses.
6.	Massachusetts (UMass)	Michael Hrabal is a stellar goalie, but they need the remaining forwards to step up and replace the departed scoring.
7.	Northeastern	Significant personnel losses make them a question mark despite a deep tournament run last year.
8.	UMass Lowell	A youth-heavy roster featuring a large class of CHL imports will take time to gel.
9.	Merrimack	Need their returning goaltending tandem to steal games in a tough division.
10.	New Hampshire	Facing a rebuild after losing top scorers.
11.	Vermont	Showing glimmers of future foundation with returning young talent.

The Commissioner’s Cup Champion: The safest bet is on Boston University. Their combination of elite sophomores, experienced depth, and the addition of Sacha Boisvert should give them the firepower to navigate the grueling conference schedule and capture the regular season title.

The 2025-26 Hockey East season is ready for its opening face-off, promising the high-stakes, intense rivalry games that have defined the league for decades. Get ready for another wild ride through the New England hockey landscape.