Women's Ice Hockey

2025 WIAC Women’s Ice Hockey Preview

MADISON, Wis.--University of Wisconsin-River Falls, the reigning NCAA Division III champion, has been selected to secure the 2025 Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) women’s ice hockey regular-season title, according to a preseason poll conducted by the league’s head coaches and sports information directors.
 
The Falcons posted a 31-0 overall record a season ago to establish a NCAA Division III single-season record for wins and the second undefeated season in NCAA Division III women’s ice hockey history. UW-River Falls also won the conference championship for the fourth straight year and 10th time overall, as well as the O’Brien Cup for the fifth consecutive year and ninth time overall. The Falcons welcome back MaKenna Aure, who is a two-time All-WIAC first team selection and received Newcomer of the Year honors in 2023. Megan Goodreau is also a two-time first team honoree.
 
UW-Eau Claire is slotted for second in the league standings and Alexa Backmann secured Newcomer of the Year distinction a season ago. The Blugolds own one regular-season title (2020) and two O’Brien Cup trophies (2018, 2019).
 
UW-Superior, UW-Stevens Point and Northland College (Wis.) complete the remaining order in the conference predicitions.
 
UW-Stevens Point’s Courtney Leising is a two-time All-WIAC first team selection and secured Newcomer of the Year recognition in 2022.
 
The 2024-25 campaign welcomes a pair of new head coaches to the conference in Bre Simon (UW-Superior) and Jake Bobrowski (Northland College). Simon served a two-year stint as an assistant coach at Elmira College (N.Y.) in 2022-23 and 2023-24, while Bobrowski was the head coach at Elmira in 2022-23 before serving as an assistant coach with the Minnesota Frost of the Minnesota Professional Women’s Hockey League last year.
 
WIAC teams will begin their non-conference schedules on Nov. 1, while the conference slate will start on Nov. 15.
 
2024-25 Preseason Predictions – Voted on by WIAC Head Coaches and Sports Information Directors
 
2023-24 Record
1. UW-River Falls (31-0 overall, 12-0 WIAC/35 pts.)
2. UW-Eau Claire (21-7, 9-3/28 pts.)
3. UW-Superior (8-18-1, 5-6-1/15 pts.)
4. UW-Stevens Point (8-18-2, 3-9/10 pts.)
5. Northland (5-20-1, 0-11-1/2 pts.)

 
Team Capsules
 
Northland College
Head Coach:  Jake Bobrowski; 2nd season (1st season at NC); 21-6 overall (0-0 NC)
Letterwinners Returning/Lost:  5/18
Goalies Returning/Lost:  1/2
Returning All-WIAC:  None
 
Notable Returning Players:  Yvonne Durfee, Sr., D; Kennedy Grhlke, So., F; Kyleigh Moffatt, Jr., F
 
 
UW-Eau Claire
Head Coach:  Erik Strand; 10th season at UWEC; 164-59-17
Letterwinners Returning/Lost:  20/6
Goalies Returning/Lost:  2/1
Returning All-WIAC:  Alexa Backmann, So., G (2024-Honorable/Newcomer of the Year); Sadie Long, Sr., F (2024-Honorable)
 
Notable Returning Players:  Ellie Andersen, Sr., F; Samantha Bandholz, Sr., F; Ava Bullert, Jr., F; Maddie Hulter, So., F
 
 
UW-River Falls
Head Coach:  Joe Cranston; 26th season at UWRF; 492-157-46
Letterwinners Returning/Lost:  19/6
Goalies Returning/Lost:  2/1
Returning All-WIAC:  MaKenna Aure, Jr., D (2023-First/Newcomer of the Year, 2024-First); Megan Goodreau, Jr., F (2023-First, 2024-First); Bailey Olson, Sr., F (2023-Honorable, 2024-Honorable); Kaitlyn Ronn, Jr., D (2024-Honorable)
 
Notable Returning Players:  Ellie Brice, Sr., F; Allison Carothers, Sr., D; Kenzie Dunn, Sr., F; Madison Lavergne, Jr., F
 
 
UW-Stevens Point
Head Coach:  Ann Ninnemann; 19th season at UWSP; 241-189-49
Letterwinners Returning/Lost:  15/9
Goalies Returning/Lost:  2/1
Returning All-WIAC:  Courtney Leising, Sr., F (2022-Newcomer of the Year, 2023-First, 2024-First)
 
Notable Returning Players:  Maddie Andrle, Jr., F; Anne Beck, So., G; Emily Griege, So., G; Alyssa Yokom, So., D
 
 
UW-Superior
Head Coach:  Bre Simon; 1st season at UWS
Letterwinners Returning/Lost:  16/8
Goalies Returning/Lost:  1/2
Returning All-WIAC:  Cora Coz, Sr., D (2024-First); Lucy Drougas, Sr., D (2024-Honorable); Jenna Hoops, Sr., F (2023-First, 2024-First); Darbie Mattson, Sr., D (2023-Honorable); Ashton Parnell, Jr., F (2024-Honorable)
 
Notable Returning Players:  Emma Booth, Sr., F; Kaylin Garner, Sr., F; Brynn MacLean, Sr., F; Veda Roeske, Jr., D
 
# # # # #