Maine Trust for Local News sports columnist Travis Lazarczyk is a voter in the U.S. College Hockey Online men’s poll. Each week he’ll share his top 20, as well as hit on a few items of interest in the sport.

Here’s his preseason poll:

1. Western Michigan
2. Penn State
3. Boston University
4. Denver
5. Minnesota
6. Maine
7. Providence
8. UConn
9. Michigan State
10. Boston College
11. Quinnipiac
12. Minnesota State
13. North Dakota
14. Arizona State
15. Michigan
16. UMass
17. Cornell
18. Ohio State
19. St. Thomas
20. Sacred Heart

Maine comes in at No. 6. The Black Bears were picked fourth in the Hockey East preseason coaches poll. I feel like that’s a couple of spots low for the defending conference champions, but acknowledge the conference is the deepest in college hockey and a lot of small things will factor into how it shakes out over the next six months. The return of All-American goalie Albin Boija, and strong defensemen like Brandon Holt and Frank Djurasevic is a plus for the Black Bears. The question will be on offense, where a slew of newcomers join the forward group. After an exhibition game against New Hampshire on Oct. 3 at Bowdoin College, Maine opens the regular season at home Oct. 10 against Holy Cross.

Defending champs open at No. 1. I voted Western Michigan No. 1, and not just because the Broncos are defending national champion. Western Michigan was picked as the top team in the National College Hockey Conference preseason poll, receiving 19 of the 30 first-place votes. The Broncos return Owen Michaels, the MVP of the Frozen Four who scored 18 goals last season, as well as goalie Hampton Slukynsky, who posted a .922 save percentage and 1.90 goals-against average last season.

Penn State looks to build on success. Last season the Nittany Lions got into the NCAA tournament as a four seed, then knocked off Maine and UConn at the regional tournament in Allentown, Pa., to reach the Frozen Four. Penn State won’t sneak up on anybody this season. The Lions return a lot of talent and added the biggest prize in the recruiting season, Gavin McKenna. The top prospect in the 2026 NHL draft class, McKenna had 41 goals and 88 assists in 56 regular-season games for the Medicine Hat Tigers of the Western Hockey League. Penn State opens the season Oct. 3 at Arizona State.