Maine at #7 Providence, vs. New Brunswick (ex)
- The Friars and Black Bears kick off the 2019-20 Hockey East season with a league contest in Providence that can be seen across New England on NESN.
- Providence is coming off its fifth Frozen Four appearance last season and returns a total of 16 players from the 2018-19 roster that went 24-12-6 overall and finished tied for second in Hockey East with a 14-7-3 mark.
- Maine begins 2019-20 receiving three votes in the USCHO.com Poll as the Black Bears return six of their top 10 scorers from last season. In 2018-20, Maine finished sixth in Hockey East with an 11-9-4 record.
Boston University at Union
- Boston University travels to Union for a non-conference match up to start off the regular season. The last meeting between the two teams took place in Belfast, Northern Ireland when the Terriers fell to the Dutchmen, 2-1, in the championship game of the 2018 Friendship Four.
- Second year head coach Albie O'Connell returns behind the Terriers' bench as his team looks to improve on last year's 16-18-4 overall record and 12-9-3 mark in Hockey East, good for a fifth place finish in the Army ROTC Hockey East standings.
- O'Connell brings in a highly regarded freshman class that features several NHL Draft picks that will look to guide Boston University to its 10th Hockey East Tournament title.
UMass Lowell vs. Alabama Huntsville
- The River Hawks open the 2019-20 regular season this weekend with a two-game home stand against WCHA foe Alabama Huntsville at the Tsongas Center.
- UMass Lowell returns 19 players from their 2018-19 roster, including three players who notched 20 or more points. Norm Bazin's squad closed out last season with a 12-7-5 record in conference play, good for a fourth place finish in the league standings, and a 19-3-5 overall record.
UConn at Sacred Heart
- UConn begins the 2019-20 season on the road as the Huskies pay a visit to in-state rival Sacred Heart for a single contest on Saturday night. The last meeting between the two former Atlantic Hockey foes came in January as the Huskies dropped a 2-1 decision.
- Huskies' head coach Mike Cavanaugh adds seven freshmen to his squad that also returns 19 players from the 2018-19 campaign, as UConn embarks on its sixth season in Hockey East. Included in the group of returners will be six of the top eight point-getters from a year ago.
Merrimack at Lake Superior State
- Merrimack begins 2019-20 looking to improve on its 7-24-3 record from last year under second-year head coach Scott Borek. The Warriors travel west to open the season at Lake Superior State on a two-game road trip.
- The Warriors have added 16 newcomers to the 2019-20 roster, joining 12 returning letter-winners from the 2018-19 squad.
Boston College vs. New Brunswick (ex)
- The 2019-20 iteration of the Boston College Eagles have been tabbed the regular season favorite, as voted on by the Hockey East coaches. Jerry York's squad earned eight of 11 first place votes in the official preseason poll.
- Boston College graduated five seniors at the end of the 2018-19 season, but welcome eight freshmen, including three first-round NHL Draft picks, to the Eagles' 18 returning players for 2019-20. Among the returners is senior captain David Cotton (Parker, Texas) who led the team in points last year with a 23-13-36 stat line and was named to the AHCA All-America Second Team.
Vermont vs. Guelph (ex)
- Vermont plays host to the University of Guelph to begin 2019-20 with an exhibition tilt. The Catamounts then open the regular season with a road trip to Clarkson and St. Lawrence on Oct. 18-19.
- The Catamounts welcome five first-year players and one transfer student to their 22 returners. In 2018-19, Vermont went 5-16-3 in Hockey East action.
New Hampshire vs. Guelph (ex)
- The Wildcats return their top scorer from the 2018-19 team in senior Liam Blackburn (Prince George, B.C.) The forward recorded 10 goals and 14 assists, including a 15-game point streak that ran from Nov. 23 - Jan. 26. Blackburn's offensive output helped New Hampshire compile a 12-15-19 on the year in Mike Souza's first year as head coach.
- This year's incoming class of Wildcats is made up of three forwards and two defenseman who round out the roster made up of 22 returning players from the 2018-19 squad, including junior goaltender and San Jose draft pick Mike Robinson (Bedford, N.H.)
