Women's Ice Hockey

2026 WIAC Women’s Ice Hockey Preview

MADISON, Wis.--The Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) has announced its preview and predictions for the 2026 women’s ice hockey season. The predictions were voted on by the conference’s head coaches and sports information directors.
 
University of Wisconsin-River Falls, winner of five consecutive regular-season championships and six straight O’Brien Cup trophies, is predicted to claim the regular-season crown. The Falcons are the No. 1-ranked team in the USCHO.com Division III Preseason Poll and have won back-to-back NCAA Division III championships.
 
The remaining order in the conference predictions feature: UW-Eau Claire (second), UW-Stevens Point (third), UW-Superior (fourth) and Beloit College (Wis.) (fifth).
 
Beloit College begins its first season as an affiliate member with the conference. The Buccaneers are in their initial year as a collegiate program and will be coached by Kelly Millins. She was recently an assistant coach at Wilkes University (Pa.).
 
The 2025-26 campaign welcomes another new head coach to the conference in Jarrad Vroman (UW-Eau Claire). He was an assistant coach with the men’s ice hockey team at Augsburg University (Minn.) the last two seasons.
 
WIAC teams will begin their non-conference schedules on Oct. 31, while the conference slate will start on Nov. 14. The top-four teams in the conference standings will qualify for the WIAC Tournament/O’Brien Cup (presented by Culver’s) with all games hosted by the higher-seeded team. Semifinal series will take place Feb. 27-28, while the championship game is March 7.
 
2025-26 Preseason Predictions – Voted on by WIAC Head Coaches and Sports Information Directors
 
2024-25 Record
1. UW-River Falls (26-3-2 overall, 11-0-1 WIAC/35 pts.)
2. UW-Eau Claire (19-9, 9-3/27 pts.)
3. UW-Stevens Point (12-14-1, 6-5-1/18 pts.)
4. UW-Superior (12-14-2, 3-9/10 pts.)
5. Beloit College NA
 
 
Team Capsules
 
Beloit College (Wis.)
Head Coach (Interim):  Kelly Millins; 1st season at BEL; 0-0
Letterwinners Returning/Lost:  NA
Goalies Returning/Lost:  NA
Returning All-WIAC:  NA
 
Notable Returning Players:  NA
 
 
UW-Eau Claire
Head Coach:  Jarrad Vroman; 1st season at UWEC; 0-0
Letterwinners Returning/Lost:  22/5
Goalies Returning/Lost:  3/0
Returning All-WIAC:  Alexa Backman, Jr., G (2024-Honorable/Newcomer of the Year); Ava Bullert, Sr., F (2025-First); Madisyn Krumholz, Jr., F (2025-First)
 
Notable Returning Players:  Lauren Ballinger, So., F; Maddie Hulter, Jr., F; Ava Johansson, Jr., F; Ashley Wagenbach, So., D
 
 
UW-River Falls
Head Coach:  Joe Cranston; 27th season at UWRF; 518-160-48
Letterwinners Returning/Lost:  19/6
Goalies Returning/Lost:  4/0
Returning All-WIAC:  MaKenna Aure, Sr., D (2023-First/Newcomer of the Year, 2024-First, 2025-First); Megan Goodreau, Sr., F (2023-First, 2024-First, 2025-First); Kylie Jones, So., F (2025-Honorable/Newcomer of the Year); Madison Kadrlik, Jr., F (2025-First); Jordan O’Kane, Sr., G (2025-First); Kaitlyn Ronn, Sr., D (2024-Honorable)
 
Notable Returning Players:  Katherine Bell, Sr., F; Madison Lavergne, Sr., F; Alexa Niccum, So., F
 
 
UW-Stevens Point
Head Coach:  Ann Ninnemann; 20th season at UWSP; 253-203-50
Letterwinners Returning/Lost:  14/7
Goalies Returning/Lost:  2/1
Returning All-WIAC:  Maddie Andrle, Sr., F (2025-Honorable); Emily Griege, Jr., G (2025-First); Molly Pohlkamp, So., F (2025-Honorable)
 
Notable Returning Players:  Natalie Ahern, Sr., F; Avery Engbrecht, So., F; Grace Torma, Sr., D; Alyssa Yokom, Jr., D
 
 
UW-Superior
Head Coach:  Bre Simon; 2nd season at UWS; 12-14-2
Letterwinners Returning/Lost:  9/11
Goalies Returning/Lost:  0/2
Returning All-WIAC:  None
 
Notable Returning Players:  Taylee Marks, So., D; Ashton Parnell, Sr. F; Veda Roeske, Jr., D; Anna Scherling, Sr., F
 
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