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USCHO released its preseason women's hockey poll yesterday, and it was kind to the Eagles' extraordinary graduating class:
| Rank | Team (1st place votes) | Points | 15-16 Record | Last Poll |
| 1 | Wisconsin (10) | 143 | 37-4-1 | 3 |
| 2 | Minnesota (3) | 135 | 35-4-1 | 1 |
| 3 | Boston College (2) | 121 | 41-1-0 | 2 |
| 4 | Quinnipiac | 93 | 31-3-5 | 5 |
| 5 | Clarkson | 82 | 30-5-5 | 4 |
| 6 | North Dakota | 60 | 18-12-5 | 9 |
| 7 | Princeton | 44 | 22-9-2 | 7 |
| 8 | Colgate | 43 | 22-9-7 | 8 |
| 9 | Northeastern | 40 | 28-9-1 | 6 |
| 10 | Boston University | 24 | 23-14-2 | NR |
Also receiving votes: Bemidji State 15, Minnesota-Duluth 9, Cornell 5, Harvard 5, Mercyhurst 5, Syracuse 1
The Eagles lost their most successful graduating class in history, including three members of the US National Team and former Patty Kazmaier Award winner Alex Carpenter. Given what they've lose, getting two first place votes and only dropping one spot from last year's season-ending poll is very impressive.
The Badgers are expected to be the team to beat this season, losing significantly less talent to graduation compared to the other top teams. The Gophers lost nearly as much as the Eagles did.
Within Hockey East, Northeastern lost a once-in-a-generation player, Kendall Coyne, and are expected to drop a bit from last season's run into the NCAA tournament. The Terriers lost a slew of players to graduation -- more than the Eagles did, in quantity -- but welcome Minnesota transfer Nina Rogers and Harvard transfer Mary Parker, who are both expected to be contributors.
BC women's hockey drops the puck on its season this Thursday and Friday with exhibition games at Conte Forum against the Boston Pride of the NWHL and the Cambridge Rivulettes.