Men's Ice Hockey

UW-Eau Claire Picked To Win Men’s Ice Hockey Championship

MADISON, Wis.--University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire has been selected to win the 2022 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 Blugolds have claimed three WIAC regular-season titles and three Commissioner’s Cup trophies in program history – with the most recent in 2020. UW-Eau Claire welcomes back a pair of all-conference performers from the 2021 campaign in Jon Richards and Charles Weiand.
 
UW-Superior claimed the regular-season title a season ago by winning the Commissioner’s Cup. It was the eighth overall championship – first since 2011 – and the first Commissioner’s Cup crown.
 
UW-River Falls owns a league high 19 regular-season championships, while UW-Stevens Point has 14 and UW-Stout one.
 
UW-Eau Claire is followed in the predictions by: UW-Stevens Point; UW-River Falls; UW-Superior; UW-Stout; and Northland College.
 
The conference will have a new point structure for the 2021-22 campaign and introduce shootouts following the five-minute three-on-three overtime period. If a shootout is needed, both teams will be awarded a tie in their overall record with the shootout determining the winner and which team will be awarded an additional point in the conference standings. Teams will be awarded 3 points for a win in regulation, 2 points for a win in overtime or shootout, 1 point for a shootout loss or overtime loss.
 
All six teams will qualify for the WIAC Tournament (Commissioner’s Cup), which begins Feb. 18-19 with first round series between the No. 6 seed and No. 3 seed, as well as the No. 5 seed and No. 4 seed. The two first-round winners will advance to the semifinals at the No. 1 and No. 2 seeds for a semifinal series Feb. 25-26. Both semifinal victors will face off for the Commissioner’s Cup on March 5. All games will be played at the higher seed.
 
2021-22 Preseason Predictions – Voted on by WIAC Head Coaches and Sports Information Directors
 
2020-21 Record
1. UW-Eau Claire (5-3-1, 5-2-1 WIAC)
2. UW-Stevens Point (7-4-1, 5-3-1)
3. UW-River Falls (6-3-1, 6-3-1)
4. UW-Superior (7-3, 5-3)
5. UW-Stout (4-7, 4-6)
6. Northland College (0-9-1, 0-8-1)
  
Team Capsules
 
Northland College (Wis.)
Head Coach:  Seamus Gregory, 9th season (8th at NC); 51-124-17 (overall) / 46-103-16 (at NC)
Letterwinners Returning/Lost:  25/1
Goalies Returning/Lost:  3/0
Returning All-WIAC:  Chris Curr, So., G (2021-Honorable)
 
Notable Returning Players:  Cam Coutre, Jr., F; Connor Evans, Sr., D; Matt Murphy, Sr., D; Cole Woodliffe, Sr., F
 
 
UW-Eau Claire
Head Coach:  Matt Loen; 15th season at UWEC; 216-124-30
Letterwinners Returning/Lost:  18/9
Goalies Returning/Lost:  2/1
Returning All-WIAC:  Andrew McGlynn, Sr., F (2020-Honorable); Jon Richards, Sr., F (2020-Honorable, 2021-First); Charles Weiand, Sr., D (2021-Honorable)
 
Notable Returning Players:  Derek Hammer, Sr., F; Connor Koviak, Sr., F; Nick Techel, Jr., F; Jarrad Vroman, Sr., D
 
 
UW-River Falls
Head Coach:  Steve Freeman; 26th season at UWRF; 410-233-61
Letterwinners Returning/Lost:  19/7
Goalies Returning/Lost:  3/0
Returning All-WIAC:  Dean Buchholz, So., G (2021-First); Cayden Cahill, Sr., F (2019-Honorable, 2020-Honorable, 2021-Honorable); Vilho Saariluoma, So., F (2021-Newcomer of the Year); Dysen Skinner, So., G (2021-Honorable)
 
Notable Returning Players:  Sam Anzai, Jr., F; Josh Arnold, Sr., F; Chase Davidson, Jr., D; Jackson Nauss, Jr., F
 
 
UW-Stevens Point
Head Coach:  Tyler Krueger; 5th season at UWSP; 85-17-9
Letterwinners Returning/Lost:  16/12
Goalies Returning/Lost:  2/1
Returning All-WIAC:  Eli Billing, Sr., G (2020-Honorable); Carter Roo, Sr., F (2019-Honorable)
 
Notable Returning Players:  Jordan Fader, Sr., F; Brandon McReynolds, Sr., F
 
 
UW-Stout
Head Coach:  Mike MacDonald; 2nd season at UWST; 4-7
Letterwinners Returning/Lost:  20/8
Goalies Returning/Lost:  4/0
Returning All-WIAC:  Zach Cloutier, So., G (2021-First); Raphael Gosselin, Sr., F (2021-First); Brennan Kitchen, Jr., G (2020-Honorable); Logan Nelson, Sr., F (2019-Honorable, 2020-Honorable, 2021-Honorable); Joey Petronack, So., D (2021-Honorable)
 
Notable Returning Players:  Matt Dahlseide, So., F; Kobe Keller, Jr., F; Alex Nagel, Sr., F; Peter Verstegen, Jr., F
 
 
UW-Superior
Head Coach:  Rich McKenna; 6th season at UWS; 50-61-11
Letterwinners Returning/Lost:  21/7
Goalies Returning/Lost:  2/1
Returning All-WIAC:  Chad Lopez, Sr., F (2021-First); Artur Terchiyev, Sr., D (2021-First); Dylan Johnson, Jr., F (2020-Newcomer of the Year, 2021-Honorable)
 
Notable Returning Players:  Coltyn Bates, Sr., F; Myles Hektor, Jr., G; Charles Martin, Jr., D; Jordan Martin, Sr., F
 
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