BOSTON — Providence College is picked to finish fifth in the 2016-17 Hockey East coaches poll, which was released on Tuesday at the league's media day at the TD Garden.
After finishing in a tie with Boston College for the regular season championship in 2015-16, the Friars lost nine seniors to graduation and junior goalie Nick Ellis left school early to sign an NHL contract with the Edmonton Oilers.
Despite the roster turnover, the Friars are ranked 10th in the first U.S. College Hockey Online national poll of the 2016-17 season. They are one of five Hockey East teams in the top 10 in the USCHO poll.