AROUND HOCKEY EAST: Merrimack College officially begins Division I play as they host St. Cloud State Friday night at 6 p.m. ... UConn travels to No. 8 Boston University and Maine meets New Hampshire in the first Hockey East contests of 2015-16. BU will raise the 2015 Women's Hockey East championship banner at their home opener ... Providence opens its season with two tilts against No. 3 Wisconsin in San Jose ... Reigning Patty Kazmaier winner Alex Carpenter and No. 2 Boston College faces the University Minnesota Duluth in a two-game homestand at Conte Forum ... Vermont plays host to Bemidji State in its first two regular season matchups while Northeastern is in exhibition battle with Toronto Leaside.