The University of Minnesota is ranked No. 8 in the preseason USA Today/USA Hockey Magazine Top 15 poll. The Gophers, who open their season Saturday against Vermont at Mariucci Arena, are the highest-ranked Big Ten team in the poll.
Minnesota received 242 total votes and one first-place vote in a poll of coaches and reporters representing or covering each of the six NCAA Division I conferences. Michigan, No. 13, is the only other Big Ten team receiving votes.
Boston College is the top team in the preseason poll with 18 first-place votes and 469 total. Minnesota-Duluth received seven first-place votes and is ranked No.