Men's Ice Hockey

UW-Stevens Point Picked To Win Men’s Ice Hockey Championship

MADISON, Wis.--University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point, the defending national champion and three-time defending conference champion, has been selected to win the 2020 Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) men’s ice hockey championship, according to a preseason poll conducted by the league’s head coaches and sports information directors.
 
The Pointers collected the sixth NCAA Division III national title in program history a year ago after posting a 29-0-2 record to become the first-ever unbeaten national champion in NCAA Division III archives. UW-Stevens Point’s 31-game unbeaten streak is the longest in WIAC history. The Pointers also secured the 13th conference regular-season championship and third Commissioner’s Cup (WIAC Tournament) - and bring back 21 letterwinners, including seven of their top-eight point scorers.
 
Junior forward Zach Zech finished second in the conference with 20 assists and third with 30 points, while senior forward Luke McElhenie and junior forward Carter Roo each contributed 25 points. McElhenie had 10 goals and 15 assists, while Roo tallied 11 goals and 14 assists. Senior defenseman Drew McLean and junior forward Colin Raver each added 22 points with McLean’s 17 assists ranking third in the league.
 
The Pointers are followed in the conference predictions by:  UW-Eau Claire; UW-Superior; UW-River Falls; Northland College (Wis.); and UW-Stout.
 
UW-Eau Claire’s 19 victories a season ago were the most since the 2013-14 squad also had 19. This year’s unit includes senior forward Jake Bresser, who placed third in the conference 17 assists, while ranking second on the team with 21 points. Junior defender Adam Parsells contributed 13 points on seven goals and six assists. Head coach Matt Loen is 10 victories away from 200 in his career. He would become the sixth coach in league archives to reach the milestone.
 
UW-Superior’s 10 wins during the 2018-19 campaign marked the first time since 2013-14 that the Yellowjackets reached double figures in victories. Junior forward Troy York had a team-best 23 points and 13 goals a season ago, while ranking second with 10 assists. Sophomore forward Chad Lopez and sophomore defenseman Artur Terchiyev each contributed 17 points with Terchiyev posting a team-high 11 assists.
 
UW-River Falls junior forward Cayden Cahill was second on last year’s team with 21 points, while placing third with 13 assists. Junior defenseman Christian Hausinger was second with 14 assists and third with 16 points. Sophomore forward Josh Arnold contributed 15 points, while senior forward Aussie Miller added 14 points. Head coach Steve Freeman, the winningest coach in WIAC history, is 12 victories away from 400 in his career. He would become the 14th coach in the NCAA Division III archives to reach the mark.
 
Northland College (Wis.) begins its first season as an affiliate member with the conference after previously being a member of the Northern Collegiate Hockey Association. The Jacks return their top point scorer from the 2018-19 campaign in senior forward Kalib Ford, who had seven goals and a team-best 19 assists for 26 points. Senior forward Kurt Sonne finished with 18 points, while senior forward Ty Kraus and senior defenseman Kyle Pouncy had 17 points and 15 points, respectively.
 
UW-Stout welcomes back sophomore forward Logan Nelson, who had a team-high 10 goals and ranked third with 16 points. Senior forward Hunter Anderson finished second on the squad with 11 assists and added two goals for 13 points. Head coach Terry Watkins is one victory away from moving into sole possession of second place on the conference’s all-time wins list, surpassing former UW-Stevens Point head coach Joe Baldarotta’s 265 victories.
 
2019-20 Preseason Predictions – Voted on by WIAC Head Coaches and Sports Information Directors
2018-19 Record
1. UW-Stevens Point (29-0-2, 8-0 WIAC)
2. UW-Eau Claire (19-7-2, 4-3-1)
3. UW-Superior (10-14-3, 3-3-2)
4. UW-River Falls (12-11-5, 1-4-3)
5. Northland College (12-13-2, NA)
6. UW-Stout (13-12-2, 0-6-2)

  
Team Capsules
 
UW-Eau Claire
Head Coach:  Matt Loen; 13th season at UWEC; 190-117-27
Letterwinners Returning/Lost:  18/5
Goalies Returning/Lost:  2/1
Returning All-WIAC:  Jake Bresser, Sr., F (2018-Honorable, 2019-First); Adam Parsells, Jr., D (2018-First, 2019-Honorable)
 
Notable Returning Players:  Andrew McGlynn, So., F; John Richards, Jr., F
 
 
Northland College (Wis.)
Head Coach:  Seamus Gregory, 7th season (6th at NC); 47-93-15 (overall) / 42-72-14 (at NC)
Letterwinners Returning/Lost:  24/9
Goalies Returning/Lost:  3/1
Returning All-WIAC:  NA
 
Notable Returning Players:  Kalib Ford, Sr., F; Ty Kraus, Sr., F; Kyle Pouncy, Sr., D; Kurt Sonne, Sr., F
 
 
UW-River Falls
Head Coach:  Steve Freeman; 24th season at UWRF; 388-220-57
Letterwinners Returning/Lost:  15/12
Goalies Returning/Lost:  2/1
Returning All-WIAC:  Cayden Cahill, Jr., F (2019-Honorable); Christian Hausinger, Jr., D (2019-Honorable)
 
Notable Returning Players:  Josh Arnold, So., F; Peter Karavos, Jr. F; Aussie Miller, Sr., F; Charlie Singerhouse, Jr., F
 
 
UW-Stevens Point
Head Coach:  Tyler Krueger; 3rd season at UWSP; 60-6-5
Letterwinners Returning/Lost:  21/8
Goalies Returning/Lost:  2/1
Returning All-WIAC:  Luke McElhenie, Sr., F (2019-First); Drew McLean, Sr., D (2018-Honorable, 2019-Honorable); Steven Quagliata, Jr., D (2018-Honorable, 2019-First); Colin Raver, Jr., F (2018-Honorable); Carter Roo, Jr., F (2019-Honorable); Zach Zech, Jr., F (2019-Honorable)
 
Notable Returning Players:  Eli Billing, So., G; Danny Kiraly, Sr., F; Brennen Miller, Sr., F; Kelly O’Brien, Sr., F
 
 
UW-Stout
Head Coach:  Terry Watkins; 24th season at UWST; 265-322-42
Letterwinners Returning/Lost:  17/12
Goalies Returning/Lost:  2/1
Returning All-WIAC:  Hunter Anderson, Sr., F (2018-Honorable); Logan Nelson, So., F (2019-Honorable)
 
Notable Returning Players:  Lucas Carroll, Jr., F; Connor Chambers, Sr., D; Adam Kresl, Sr., F; Trent Olson, Sr., D
 
 
UW-Superior
Head Coach:  Rich McKenna; 4th season at UWS; 27-48-8
Letterwinners Returning/Lost:  19/10
Goalies Returning/Lost:  1/2
Returning All-WIAC:  Bruno Birzitis, Sr., F (2018-Honorable); Connor Hamonic, Jr., D (2018-Honorable); Oscar Svensson, Jr., G (2019-First); Troy York, Jr., F (2019-First)
 
Notable Returning Players:  Andrew Durham, Sr., F; Chad Lopez, So., F; Troy MacTavish, So., F; Artur Terchiyev, So., D
 
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