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Men's Hockey Picked Second in Hockey East Preseason Poll
Team Takes Ice on Sunday, October 3 at Vermont to Open Season

Sept. 30, 2004

BOSTON, Mass.- The University of Maine men's ice hockey team was picked to
finish second in the 2004-05 Preseason Hockey East Coaches Poll released on
Thursday during media day at the Fleet Center. The Black Bears received 66
total votes, second behind Boston College with 68 points. The Eagles had
five first place votes, with the Black Bears picking up three first place
votes.

Following Boston College and Maine in the poll were Boston University (52
points, one first place vote), New Hampshire (51), UMass-Lowell (45),
Massachusetts (42), Northeastern (28), Providence (26) and Merrimack (18).
Last season the Black Bears were picked to finish fourth in the league, but
finished second in the regular season, won the Hockey East Tournament and
advanced to the NCAA Championship game with a 33-8-3 record.

The Black Bears, currently ranked second in the nation, hit the ice on
Sunday, October 3 at Vermont to begin the season. Maine opens the home
schedule on October 8 and 9 with a two-game series with North Dakota. For
more information on athletics at the University of Maine, visit
www.GoBlackBears.com.