UW-River Falls Picked To Win Men’s Ice Hockey Crown
MADISON, Wis.--University of Wisconsin-River Falls, the defending conference co-champion, has been selected to secure the 2017 Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) men’s ice hockey championship, based on a preseason poll conducted by the league’s head coaches and sports information directors.
The Falcons claimed their league-leading 18th regular-season title a season ago and welcome back 15 letterwinners from that squad. Leading the returnees is junior forward Kyle Gattelaro, who is a two-time All-WIAC first team selection and led last year’s team with 19 points (9 goals, 10 assists). Senior forward Christian George (8 goals, 8 assists) and sophomore forward Joe Drapluk (7 goals, 9 assists) were second on the squad with 16 points.
UW-Stevens Point, the defending NCAA Division III champion, is slotted for second in the five-team league race. The NCAA Division III crown a season ago was the fifth in school history and ninth captured by a WIAC program. The Pointers also won the Commissioner’s Cup and produced the most wins for the program (24) since the 1992-93 season (25).
The Pointers are followed in the conference predictions by: UW-Eau Claire; UW-Stout; and UW-Superior.
The 2016-17 campaign welcomes a new head coach to the WIAC as Rich McKenna assumes the role at UW-Superior. Last season, he served as head coach of the New Jersey Titans of the North American Hockey League.
2016-17 Preseason Predictions – Voted on by WIAC Head Coaches and Sports Information Directors
|
2015-16 Record |
| 1. UW-River Falls |
16-7-5 overall, 5-2-1 WIAC |
| 2. UW-Stevens Point |
24-5-2, 5-3 |
| 3. UW-Eau Claire |
15-6-6, 5-2-1 |
| 4. UW-Stout |
10-13-6, 1-6-1 |
| 5. UW-Superior |
9-15-3, 2-5-1 |
Team Snippets
UW-Eau Claire
Head Coach: Matt Loen; 10th season at UWEC; 136-93-21
Letterwinners Returning/Lost: 19/4
Goalies Returning/Lost: 2/1
Returning All-WIAC: Garret Clemment, Sr., F (2016-Honorable); Adam Knochenmus, Sr., F (2016-First); Patrick Moore, Sr., F (2015-Honorable, 2016-First)
Notable Returning Players: Jay Deo, Sr., G
UW-River Falls
Head Coach: Steve Freeman; 21st season at UWRF; 356-179-46
Letterwinners Returning/Lost: 15/3
Goalies Returning/Lost: 2/1
Returning All-WIAC: Jeff Bergh, Sr., D (2015-Honorable, 2016-First); Kyle Gattelaro, Jr., F (2015-First, 2016-First); Christian George, Sr., F (2015-First, 2016-Honorable); Terry Leabo, Jr., D (2015-Honorable, 2016-Honorable); Mitch Kontny, Sr., F (2014-Honorable)
Notable Returning Players: Joe Drapluk, So., F; Michael Lant, Sr., D
UW-Stevens Point
Head Coach: Chris Brooks; 6th season at UWSP; 98-40-10
Letterwinners Returning/Lost: 18/10
Goalies Returning/Lost: 3/0
Returning All-WIAC: Stephan Beauvais, So., D (2016-Honorable); Lawrence Cornellier, Sr., F (2016-First); Max Milosek, Jr., G (2016-Honorable); Kyle Sharkey, Sr., F (2014-Honorable, 2015-First, 2016-Honorable)
Notable Returning Players: Jono Davis, Sr., F; Eliot Grauer, Sr., F; Nathan Harris, Jr., D; Ethan Strong, So., D
UW-Stout
Head Coach: Terry Watkins; 21st season at UWST; 233-281-35
Letterwinners Returning/Lost: 21/9
Goalies Returning/Lost: 1/2
Returning All-WIAC: Joe Kleven, So., D (2016-Honorable); Justin Moody, Sr., F (2015-Honorable, 2016-Honorable)
Notable Returning Players: Riley Colvard, Sr., F; Craig Lindegard, Sr., F; Shane McLauglin, Sr., F/D; Spencer Viele, Sr., G
UW-Superior
Head Coach: Rich McKenna; 1st season at UWS; 0-0
Letterwinners Returning/Lost: 26/1
Goalies Returning/Lost: 3/0
Returning All-WIAC: Ian Ecklund, Jr., F (2016-Honorable); Eric Shand, Sr., D (2014-First, 2015-First, 2016-First); Anton Svensson, Sr., F (2016-First)
Notable Returning Players: Bryce Fink; Jr., G; Daniel Litchke, So., F; Jordan Neduzak, Sr., F; Owen Stauber, Sr., D
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