Women's Ice Hockey

UW-River Falls Picked To Capture Women’s Ice Hockey Title

MADISON, Wis.--University of Wisconsin-River Falls, the two-time defending conference champion, has been picked to the capture the 2023 Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) women’s ice hockey championship, according to a preseason poll conducted by the league’s head coaches and sports information directors.
 
The Falcons, who enter the 2022-23 campaign ranked No. 5 in the DCU/USCHO.com NCAA Division III Preseason Poll, posted their conference-best eighth first-place finish last season and won the WIAC Tournament (O’Brien Cup) for the seventh time. UW-River Falls’ 27 victories a season ago established a program record and the Falcons received a NCAA bid for the 13th time in program archives. UW-River Falls also put together a conference-best 20-game winning streak. The Falcons bring back four All-WIAC first team honorees from last season, including Abigail Stow, who is a four-time All-WIAC first team performer.
 
UW-Eau Claire, ranked No. 6 in the USCHO.com poll, owns one regular-season championship and a pair of O’Brien Cup trophies. The Blugolds welcome back three All-WIAC performers from a year ago – Stephanie Martin, Samantha Scherling and Hallie Sheridan.
 
UW-River Falls is followed in the predictions by: UW-Eau Claire; UW-Stevens Point; UW-Superior; and Northland College.
 
All five teams will qualify for the WIAC Tournament (O’Brien Cup), which begins Feb. 21 with a first round game between the No. 5 seed and No. 4 seed. The first-round winner will advance to the semifinals Feb. 24-25 against the No. 1 seed, while the No. 2 seed and No. 3 seed will square off in the other semifinal. The semifinal winners will meet for the O’Brien Cup on March 4. All contests will be played at the higher seed.
 
2022-23 Preseason Predictions – Voted on by WIAC Head Coaches and Sports Information Directors
 
2021-22 Record
1. UW-River Falls (27-2 overall, 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; 3rd 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; 8th 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; 24th 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; 17th 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; 20th 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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