To put the Hockey East Conference in perspective, consider that in 1984:

- Tim Army, the coach at Providence College, was Hockey East's leading scorer with 60 points in the league's inaugural season.

- Seven teams made up Hockey East: Boston College, Boston University, Maine, UMass-Lowell, New Hampshire, Northeastern and Providence.

- Only one player on the University of Maine roster was born in or before 1984, forward Jeff Marshall.

Hockey East opens its 25th season next weekend and Boston University Coach Jack Parker, the league's longest-tenured coach, has seen the league grow in several ways.

"Just by sheer numbers we've added teams, but more important, we've added quality," said Parker, who enters his 35th season as the Terriers head coach. "From when it started until now, schools that are in this league are making a better commitment to the sport. The coaches in this league, the quality of the coaching in the league has jumped greatly because of the additions that we've had, at every school."

On the national level, Hockey East has five NCAA champions and 43 former players currently at the NHL level, and 51 NHL draftees expected to suit up for Hockey East teams this season, including five Maine players.

"This league always stands as one of the best in college hockey, nationally, there's no question about that," Parker said. "The only league that can compare themselves to us is the WCHA. This year will be no exception. It will go down to the wire in our league and someone will emerge as a national contender."

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