Women’s Ice Hockey
MADISON, Wis.–University of Wisconsin-River Falls, the two-time protecting convention champion, has been picked to the seize the 2023 Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) ladies’s ice hockey championship, in keeping with a preseason ballot carried out through the league’s head coaches and sports activities data administrators.
The Falcons, who input the 2022-23 marketing campaign ranked No. 5 within the DCU/USCHO.com NCAA Division III Preseason Poll, posted their conference-best 8th first-place end closing season and received the WIAC Tournament (O’Brien Cup) for the 7th time. UW-River Falls’ 27 victories a season in the past established a program report and the Falcons won a NCAA bid for the thirteenth time in program archives. UW-River Falls additionally put in combination a conference-best 20-game successful streak. The Falcons carry again 4 All-WIAC first group honorees from closing season, together with Abigail Stow, who’s a four-time All-WIAC first group performer.
UW-Eau Claire, ranked No. 6 within the USCHO.com ballot, owns one regular-season championship and 2 O’Brien Cup trophies. The Blugolds welcome again 3 All-WIAC performers from a 12 months in the past – Stephanie Martin, Samantha Scherling and Hallie Sheridan.
UW-River Falls is adopted within the predictions through: UW-Eau Claire; UW-Stevens Point; UW-Superior; and Northland College.
All 5 groups will qualify for the WIAC Tournament (O’Brien Cup), which starts Feb. 21 with a primary around sport between the No. 5 seed and No. 4 seed. The first-round winner will advance to the semifinals Feb. 24-25 in opposition to the No. 1 seed, whilst the No. 2 seed and No. 3 seed will sq. off within the different semifinal. The semifinal winners will meet for the O’Brien Cup on March 4. All contests will likely be performed on the upper seed.
2022-23 Preseason Predictions – Voted on through WIAC Head Coaches and Sports Information Directors
| 2021-22 Record | |
| 1. UW-River Falls | (27-2 total, 8-1 WIAC) |
| 2. UW-Eau Claire | (23-6, 8-2) |
| 3. UW-Stevens Point | (12-15, 5-6) |
| 4. UW-Superior | (10-14-1, 4-4) |
| 5. Northland College | (1-24-1, 0-12) |
Team Capsules
Northland College (Wis.)
Head Coach: Jason Carter; third season at NC; 1-31-1
Letterwinners Returning/Lost: 17/5
Goalies Returning/Lost: 2/1
Returning All-WIAC: None
Notable Returning Players: Maddy Bloedel, Jr., D; Mahteya Dumelie, Sr., F; McKenna Freerksen, So., F; Teagen Johnson, Sr., G
UW-Eau Claire
Head Coach: Erik Strand; eighth season at UWEC; 121-48-15
Letterwinners Returning/Lost: 16/9
Goalies Returning/Lost: 2/0
Returning All-WIAC: Stephanie Martin, Sr., G (2021-Honorable, 2022-Honorable); Samantha Scherling, Sr., F (2021-Honorable, 2022-Honorable); Hallie Sheridan, Sr., F (2022-First)
Notable Returning Players: Emily Hart, Sr., D; Taylar Meier, Jr., F/D; Hattie Verstegen, Jr., F
UW-River Falls
Head Coach: Joe Cranston; twenty fourth season at UWRF; 437-153-45
Letterwinners Returning/Lost: 16/9
Goalies Returning/Lost: 2/1
Returning All-WIAC: Holly Eckers, Jr., D (2021-First, 2022-First); Alex Hantge, Jr., F (2021-First/Newcomer of the Year); Sami Miller, Sr., G (2019-First, 2020-Honorable, 2022-First); Jordan O’Connor, Jr., G (2021-First); Jessica Rubenalt, Sr., D (2022-First); Abigail Stow, Sr., F (2019-First, 2020-First, 2021-First, 2022-First)
Notable Returning Players: Maddie McCollins, Sr., F
UW-Stevens Point
Head Coach: Ann Ninnemann; seventeenth season at UWSP; 221-157-46
Letterwinners Returning/Lost: 17/7
Goalies Returning/Lost: 2/2
Returning All-WIAC: Laina Berthiaume, So., D (2022-Honorable); Olivia Schultz, Sr., G (2020-Honorable, 2021-First, 2022-Honorable)
Notable Returning Players: Sara Aadalen, Jr., F; Courtney Leising, So., F; Katie Stanius, So., F; Maike Zipp, Sr., F
UW-Superior
Head Coach: Dan Laughlin; twentieth season at UWS; 281-176-43
Letterwinners Returning/Lost: 15/11
Goalies Returning/Lost: 2/1
Returning All-WIAC: None
Notable Returning Players: Rose Beeman, Jr., G; Emma Booth, So., F; Cora Coz, So., D; Kailey Swerhun, Jr., F
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