Merrimack Picked Fifth in Hockey East Preseason Poll

The Merrimack hockey team was picked to finish fifth in the Hockey East Coaches Preseason Poll as announced at Hockey East Media Day on Tuesday at the TD Garden. This is the highest preseason ranking in school history for the Warriors who are coming off of a Division 1 school-record 25-win campaign and an appearance in the NCAA tournament.

Ranked the highest ever in the preseason poll under head coach Mark Dennehy, Merrimack received 61 total votes, just three fewer than fourth-place Maine and eleven fewer than third-place New Hampshire.

Boston College, the 2011 Hockey East champion, received seven first-place votes while Boston University was second overall. Teams ranked below Merrimack in the poll include Vermont, Massachusetts, Northeastern, Umass Lowell and Providence.

Merrimack, led by captains Karl Stollery of Camrose, Alberta, Ryan Flanigan of Rochester, N.Y., and Jordan Heywood of Regina, S.K., opens the 2011-12 season on Oct. 7 at #16 Maine at 7 p.m.

The home opener at Lawler Arena is Saturday, October 15 at 7 p.m. against Army. Limited tickets remain available and can be purchased online at www.merrimackathletics.com.

Last season, Merrimack posted the best season in its Division I history, posting a 14-2-1 home record and advancing to their first ever Hockey East championship game and first NCAA tournament appearance since 1988.