I'd have to agree with Bob on this one and go one step further to not rule out
Northeastern.  I think UMass-Amherst and Northeastern both had interesting
seasons this year and will be teams Maine has to watch out for next year.
Northeastern was showing a great deal of improvement under Crowder and I was
shocked at their performance this season but I would not necessarily put them
at the bottom of my list next season.  UMass is also a team that has gotten
progressively better and better and I would not count them out.  I think they
played well this season and I believe they will build on that momentum next
season.

Bob Woodbury wrote:

> Nice list. I guess the only exception I can find is UMass-Amherst. I
> don't believe they over achieved this year and I think, under Toot
> Cahoun, they'll only get better.
>
> Spiros Polemis wrote:
>
> > I predict the following 3 groups (teams interchangeable within a group),
> > and 1 sole cellar dweller . . .
> >
> > 1- UNH (perennial strong team)
> > 2- Maine (lots of new talent)
> > 3- Boston College (up there)
> >
> > 4- Boston U (less talent than top three)
> > 5- Merrimack (superb coaching))
> > 6- UMass Lowell (don't know why)
> >
> > 7- UMass Amherst (overachieved this yr.)
> > 8- Providence
> >
> > 9- Northeastern
> >
> > Please don't rip me for not placing Maine on top. The top three will be
> > interchangeable, so it's as if they will be tied. And we KNOW who will
> > advance to the Frozen four next season, don't we!
> >
> >