GRAND FORKS, N.D. - The University of North Dakota women's hockey team is predicted to finish fifth in the Western Collegiate Hockey Association (WCHA), according to a preseason poll of league coaches, its highest prediction in program history.
Sophomore Monique Lamoureux-Kolls (Grand Forks, N.D.) finished second in the pre-season player of the year prediction behind Wisconsin's Hillary Knight.
Last season's national champion Minnesota Duluth is picked to repeat and win again in 2010-11 while the coaches pick Wisconsin second, Minnesota third, Ohio State fourth, Bemidji State sixth, St. Cloud State seventh and Minnesota State eighth.
2010-11 WCHA Coaches Pre-Season Poll
| Rank |
Team (1st place votes) |
Points |
| 1 |
Minnesota Duluth (6) |
48 |
| 2 |
Wisconsin (2) |
43 |
| 3 |
Minnesota |
37 |
| 4 |
Ohio State |
30 |
| 5 |
North Dakota |
27 |
| 6 |
Bemidji State |
17 |
| 7 |
St. Cloud State
|
13 |
| 8 |
Minnesota State
|
9 |
(Note: coaches could not vote for their own teams in the poll and points were awarded on a 7-6-5-4-3-2-1 system.
WCHA Pre-Season Player of the Year (votes): Hilary Knight, F, Wisconsin (7); Monique Lamoureux-Kolls, F, North Dakota (1).
WCHA Pre-Season Rookie of the Year: Amanda Kessel, F, Minnesota (6); Alex Rigsby, G, Wisconsin (1); Packer Madison, F, Wisconsin (½); Brittany Ammerman, F, Wisconsin (½).
The Sioux open their 2009-10 schedule this Saturday at 2 p.m. with an exhibition game against the Toronto Aeros.
