Gophers, Eagles Share Top Spot

Last year’s semifinal opponents are co-No. 1 in USA Today/USA Hockey Magazing Preseason Poll

Boston College and Minnesota, two teams that met in April in the NCAA semifinals, share the No. 1 spot in the USA Today/USA Hockey Magazine Preseason Poll, released Monday.

The Eagles won that game, 6-1, and went on to win the national championship two days later. Head coach Jerry York’s squad will have to replace leading scorer Chris Kreider and top defensemen Brian Dumoulin and Tommy Cross, while Don Lucia’s Golden Gophers bring back much of their lineup from the team that won the WCHA’s MacNaughton Cup last year.

Nearly one half of the 59 Division I programs received at least a vote in the poll.