UW-River Falls Selected To Win Women’s Ice Hockey Title
MADISON, Wis.--Three-time defending champion University of Wisconsin-River Falls has been selected to win the 2017 Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) women’s ice hockey title, based on a preseason poll conducted by the league’s head coaches and sports information directors.
The Falcons welcome back 18 letterwinners from last year’s team that posted a national runner-up finish for the first time in program history. UW-River Falls accumulated a 23-6-2 record for its eighth consecutive season of 20-plus victories. Senior defenseman Paige Johnson is a three-time All-WIAC first team selection and posted four goals and 13 assists a season ago. Senior forward Dani Sibley was second on the team with 19 assists in 2015-16, while ranking third with 21 goals. The Falcons have made eight straight NCAA Division III championship appearances.
UW-Stevens Point has finished second in the four-team league race three straight years and is pegged for another runner-up season. The Pointers have 13 letterwinners returning from the 2015-16 campaign, including sophomore forward Cara Lemirande, who was second on the team with 12 goals and third with 19 points.
The Pointers are followed in the WIAC predictions by UW-Superior and UW-Eau Claire.
2016-17 Preseason Predictions - Voted on by WIAC Head Coaches and Sports Information Directors
|
2015-16 Record |
| 1. UW-River Falls |
23-6-2 overall, 9-3 WIAC |
| 2. UW-Stevens Point |
17-8-3, 6-3-3 |
| 3. UW-Superior |
10-12-5, 3-6-3 |
| 4. UW-Eau Claire |
9-13-5, 2-8-2 |
Team Tidbits
UW-Eau Claire
Head Coach: Erik Strand; 2nd season at UWEC; 9-13-5
Letterwinners Returning/Lost: 14/8
Goalies Returning/Lost: 0/3
Returning All-WIAC: Mariah Czech, Sr., F (2016-Honorable); Lauren Norgren, Jr., D (2016 Honorable); Holly Turnbull, So., D (2016-Honorable)
Notable Returning Players: Claudia Gagnon, Sr., F; Emily Silkey, Sr., F; Jen Thomsen, Jr., F; Jaedyn Walz, Jr., F
UW-River Falls
Head Coach: Joe Cranston; 18th season at UWRF; 310-129-40
Letterwinners Returning/Lost: 18/4
Goalies Returning/Lost: 2/1
Returning All-WIAC: Angie Hall, Jr., G (2016-First); Paige Johnson, Sr., D (2014-First, 2015-First, 2016-First); Carly Moran, Jr., F (2015-Honorable, 2016-First); Dani Sibley, Sr., F (2015-First, 2016-First)
Notable Returning Players: Amy Auran, Jr., F; Haley Nielsen, So., D; Karleigh Wolkerstorfer, Sr., F
UW-Stevens Point
Head Coach: Ann Ninnemann; 11th season at UWSP; 163-85-30
Letterwinners Returning/Lost: 13/8
Goalies Returning/Lost: 2/1
Returning All-WIAC: Sydney Conley, So., G (2016-Honorable); Cara Lemirande, So., F (2016-First); Ellie Punnett, Jr., F (2016-First); Lauren Smith, So., D (2016-Honorable)
Notable Returning Players: Ali Biagini, Jr., F
UW-Superior
Head Coach: Dan Laughlin; 14th season at UWS; 217-104-36
Letterwinners Returning/Lost: 17/6
Goalies Returning/Lost: 3/0
Returning All-WIAC: Sky Brown, Jr., G (2016-Honorable)
Notable Returning Players: Hailey Adair, Sr., F; Emily Heid, Jr., D; Mikayla Goodin, Jr., F; Natasha Singer, So., G
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