No. 4 Boston University vs. Prince Edward Island (ex) - Sat. 10/1 at BU

- Boston University enters the season ranked No. 4 in the USCHO.com Preseason poll and were picked to finish atop Hockey East during the regular season in the Hockey East Preseason Coaches' Poll.

- The Terriers return 15 letter winners from last season, led by senior captain Doyle Somerby (Marblehead, Mass.), and highlighted by 2016 NHL first round draft pick Charlie McAvoy (Long Island, N.Y./14th overall, Boston Bruins).

- BU will welcome nine newcomers to the roster, including four 2016 NHL first round draft picks Clayton Keller (Swansea, Ill./7th overall, Arizona), Dante Fabbro (New Westminster, B.C./17th overall, Nashville), Kieffer Bellows (Edina, Minn./19th overall, N.Y. Islanders), as well as top 2017 NHL draft prospect Jake Oettinger (Lakeville, Minn.).

No. 5 Boston College vs. Carleton (ex) - Sun. 10/2 at Warrior Ice Arena

- Boston College enters the season ranked fifth in the USCHO.com preseason poll, and voted to finish sixth in the Hockey East Preseason Coaches' Poll after losing 12 players from 2015-16, including Hockey East Co-Player of the Year Thatcher Demko (San Diego, Calif.) and defensemen Ian McCoshen (Faribault, Minn.) and Steven Santini (Mahopac, N.Y.).

- The Eagles return just 12 letter winners from last season, after an offseason filled with departures to the NHL. In addition to graduating four seniors, seven skaters signed into the NHL, including Demko, McCoshen, Santini, and All-Hockey East forward Alex Tuch (Baldwinsville, N.Y.). The Eagles receive an injection of youth, carrying 13 freshmen, including Joseph Woll (Dardenne Praire, Mo./62nd overall, Toronto Maple Leafs) and Graham McPhee (Bethesda, Md./149th overall, Edmonton Oilers).

No. 8 UMass Lowell vs. Prince Edward Island (ex) - Sun. 10/2 at UML

- UMass Lowell enters its 50th season on the ice ranked No. 8 in the USCHO.com Preseason poll, and chosen to finish fourth in the Hockey East Preseason Coaches' Poll.

- The River Hawks return 19 letter winners from last season, led by junior forward C.J. Smith (Des Moines, Iowa) who has led Norm Bazin's squad in scoring in each of the last two seasons at UMass Lowell. The River Hawks welcome nine freshman to this year's roster, highlighted by 2016 NHL Draft Picks goalie Tyler Wall (Leamington, Ont./174th overall, N.Y. Rangers), and forward Ryan Lohin (Chadds Ford, Pa./208th overall, Tampa Bay Lightning).

No. 9 Notre Dame vs. USA Hockey's National Team Development Program (ex)- Sun. 10/2 at ND

- Notre Dame enters its final season in Hockey East ranked No. 9 in the national USCHO.com Preseason poll, and voted to finish tied for second in the Hockey East Preseason Coaches' Poll.

- The Fighting Irish return 18 letter winners, led by junior goaltender Cal Peterson (Waterloo, Iowa), who is the first netminder in program history to wear the captain's "C." Notre Dame also welcomes eight freshman, highlighted by 2016 NHL draft picks Andrew Peeke (Parkland, Fla./34th overall, Columbus Blue Jackets), and Cameron Morrison (Aurora, Ont./40th overall, Colorado Avalanche).

No. 10 Providence vs. Prince Edward Island (ex) - Sun. 10/2 at PC

- Providence enters the season ranked No. 10 in the USCHO.com Preseason poll, and voted to finish fifth in the Hockey East Preseason Coaches' Poll.

- The Friars return 15 letter winners from last season, including All-Hockey East defenseman Jake Walman (Toronto, Ont.), Anthony Florentino (West Roxbury, Mass.) and 2016 NHL draft pick Vincent Desharnais (Laval, Que./183rd overall, Edmonton Oilers).

- Providence welcomes 10 freshman to this year's roster, highlighted by 2016 NHL Draft Picks Kasper Björkqvist (Espoo, Finland/61st overall, Pittsburgh Penguins), and Brandon Duhaime (Parkland, Fla./106th overall, Minnesota Wild).

No. 15 Northeastern vs. Acadia University (ex) - Sat. 10/1 at NU

- Reigning Hockey East Tournament Champion Northeastern enters the season ranked No. 15 in the USCHO.com Preseason Poll, and was picked to finish tied for second in the Hockey East Preseason Coaches' Poll, receiving one first-place vote.

- The Huskies return 15 letter winners from last season, highlighted by 2016 NHL draft pick and 2016 Hockey East All-Tournament Team forward Nolan Stevens (Sea Isle City, N.J./125th overall, St. Louis Blues). Northeastern also adds 10 freshman to this year's roster, including 2016 NHL Draft Picks Matt Filipe (Lynnfield, Mass./67th overall, Carolina Hurricanes), and Jeremy Davies (Ste-Anne-de-Bellevue, Que./192nd overall, New Jersey Devils).

Vermont vs. Concordia University (ex) - Sat. 10/1 at UVM

- Vermont looks to build off the 2015-16 season, where the Catamounts finished with an overall record of 15-22-3 and made its second consecutive appearance in the Hockey East quarterfinals.

- The Catamounts were voted to finish eighth in Hockey East according to the Hockey East Preseason Coaches' Poll, boasting a roster of 24 returning players.

Merrimack vs. University of New Brunswick (ex) - Sat. 10/1 at MC

- Merrimack finished 2015-16 with an overall record of 13-19-7 after a streak-filled season. Mark Dennehy's team advanced to the quarterfinals of the Hockey East Tournament for the second straight year, falling to Providence in a tightly-contested series.

- The Warriors were voted to finish ninth in Hockey East according to the Hockey East Preseason Coaches' Poll after returning 20 letter winners, and welcoming six freshmen.

UConn vs. St. Francis Xavier (ex) - Sat. 10/1 2:05pm at UConn

- UConn takes the ice for its third season in Hockey East after finishing 2015-16 with a record of 11-21-4, good enough to host a playoff series at the XL Center.

- The Huskies were voted to finish seventh in Hockey East according to the Hockey East Preseason Coaches' Poll, bringing back 19 veteran skaters, led by junior captain Derek Pratt (Mount Herman, Mass.), and stocked with talent, including offensive sophomore phenoms Tage Thompson (Orange, Conn.) and Maxim Letunov (Moscow, Russia).

- The Huskies welcome seven newcomers this year, including former Maine Black Bear and graduate student Brian Morgan (Windham, N.H.).

New Hampshire vs. University of New Brunswick (ex) - Sun. 10/2 at UNH

- The University of New Hampshire finished 2015-16 with an overall record of 11-20-6 and landing 10th in Hockey East, eventually falling to Merrimack in the Hockey East Opening Round. The Wildcats were again voted to finish 10th in Hockey East in the Hockey East Preseason Coaches' Poll.

- New Hampshire returns 17 skaters from last season and welcomes seven freshman, highlighted by Brendan Van Riemsdyk (Middletown, N.J.), the younger brother of former Wildcats and current NHL players James and Trevor Van Riemsdyk.

Maine vs. St. Francis Xavier (ex) - Sun. 10/2 4pm at ME

- Maine looks to build off the 2015-16 season, where the Black Bears finished with an overall record of 8-24-6.

- The Black Bears return 17 skaters and welcome 11 newcomers, highlighted by junior forward Quinnipiac transfer Canon Pieper (Roseville, Minn.)

UMass vs. Dalhousie (ex) - Sat. 10/1 2:05pm at UMass

- Lead by new head coach Greg Carvel, the Minutemen were chosen to finish 11th in Hockey East by the 12 league head coaches in the preseason poll. UMass looks to improve off the 2015-16 season, where the squad finished with an overall record of 8-24-4 before bowing out in the first round of the Hockey East Tournament to eventual champion Northeastern.

- UMass returns an experienced roster, carrying 20 returning players, led by senior forward Steven Iacobellis (Pt. Coquitlam, B.C.), as well as nine newcomers to the roster.