Sept. 25, 2007

BOSTON - Head coach Don Cahoon and his senior captains traveled to Boston's TD Banknorth Garden on Tuesday to take part in Hockey East's Annual Media Day. The preseason coaches poll was released with the Minutemen picked to finish tied for fifth with Vermont. It is the Minutemen's highest preseason ranking since 2003 when UMass was also picked fifth - the highest ranking since joining the league. Also announced today was the league's composite television schedule which features seven UMass games.

Boston College and New Hampshire were picked as the preseason favorites to win the conference with 84 overall votes and five first-place votes each. UMass received 54 total votes.

UMass' first television game of the season will be at Providence on Oct. 26 on COX-TV. Two games at the Mullins Center will be televised: vs. New Hampshire on Jan. 11 (NESN) and vs. Boston University on March 1 (CN8). When the Minutemen head north to Maine on Feb. 24, the nation will be able to watch as ESPNU will carry the game.

The Minutemen will officially begin the season on Oct. 6 and hold an exhibition game against Trois Rivieres in the UMass Hockey Practice Rink on Oct. 7 at 5:30 p.m. The regular-season kicks off on Oct. 12 as the Minutemen head to Clarkson in Potsdam, N.Y.

The Toot Cahoon Radio Show will once again be held at The Hangar Pub and Grill on University Drive in Amherst with the season-opening show on Oct. 10. The show will preview the Clarkson/St. Lawrence games. A complete schedule of the show which will be held throughout the season will be available later. It can be heard live on 100.9 WRNX FM and through UMassAthletics.com.