#8 Boston College at Merrimack
- The 2019-20 Hockey East season officially opens when #7 Boston College visits Merrimack on Friday night. The two teams went 1-1-1 in the three-game series last season.
- The Eagles begin a season-long campaign at a Hockey East rival for the first time since the 2013-14 season when BC claimed a 5-1 victory over Maine.
- Last season, Boston College finished with an overall record of 26-12-2, including a 19-7-1 mark in Hockey East play that was good for a second-place finish in the Army ROTC Hockey East Standings. The Eagles went on to reach the Hockey East title game and the NCAA Quarterfinals.
- In 2018-19, Merrimack finished with its highest-ever standings, placing fifth with a 12-10-5 mark in league play and a 16-13-7 overall record.
- The Warriors 16 wins were the most in program history
Holy Cross vs. Penn State
- Holy Cross is the lone Hockey East team to have already begun the 2019-20 campaign, having dropped its season-opener last Saturday at Colgate, 4-1.
- In that opener, Holy Cross's leading scorers from 2018-19 combined for the Crusaders' only goal of the contest as Carlie Magier (Allen Park, Mich.) found Rachel Moore (Falmouth, Mass.) for the tally.
- Sophomore goaltender Jada Brenon (Pendleton, N.Y.) stopped 40 shots in the loss.
- The two contests against Penn State will mark the first time the two programs have clashed in series history.
New Hampshire vs. Franklin Pierce
- New Hampshire kicks off the new season welcoming Franklin Pierce in the sole game on the Hockey East calendar for Sunday.
- Last year, New Hampshire finished sixth in the Army ROTC Hockey East Standings, carrying a 10-14-3 record and 13-17-6 overall mark.
- The Wildcats boast a roster that includes seven seniors who accounted for 51 of New Hampshire's 77 total goals (65%) and 95 of the team's 197 points (48%.)
- Sunday's contest will mark the first time that Franklin Pierce, part of the newly-formed New England Women's Hockey Alliance, will compete as a member of a Division I college hockey conference.
UConn vs. Ryerson (ex), Connecticut Whale (ex)
- The UConn Huskies kick off their 2019-20 season with a pair of exhibition contests at Freitas Forum in Storrs, welcoming Ryerson University on Friday and the Connecticut Whale of the NWHL on Saturday.
- The Huskies capped a 2018-19 in the Hockey East quarterfinals, finishing with a 14-18-4 overall record and 9-14-4 mark in Hockey East contests.
- Junior Natalie Snodgrass (Eagan, Minn.) was tops on her team last year with 15 goals and adding 14 assists. In August, Snodgrass represented Team USA in a three-game series against Canada, her fourth time donning the red, while, and blue of USA Hockey.
Maine vs. New Brunswick (ex)
- The Black Bears begin the 2019-20 season with an exhibition against the University of New Brunswick. Last season, Maine finished with a 14-15-5 overall record, including a league mark of 7-15-5 and missing the Hockey East Tournament for the first time since 2011.
- Maine returns much of its offense from 2018-19, including the top point-getter in sophomore Celine Tedenby (Örnsköldsvik, Sweden/26p) and top goal-scorer Tereza Vanisova (Strakonice, Czech Republic/17g.)
- Vanisova ended the 2018-19 campaign with 98 career points.
Providence vs. New Brunswick (ex)
- The 2019-20 Providence Friars begin the road to return to the Hockey East semifinals with a preseason matchup with New Brunswick on Saturday.
- Last season, the Friars finished with a 24-11-2 overall record, including a 16-9-2 mark in the Hockey East. The 24 overall wins tied for a program-best, last reached in 2002-03, the first season of the Hockey East women's league.
- Standout forward Maureen Murphy (Buffalo, N.Y.) returns to Providence for her junior year after leading the Friars in goals (22), assists (21), and points (43) last year. Her 23 overall goals were the third-most in Hockey East in 2018-19.
