GRAND FORKS, N.D. -- Earning 35 points, the University of North Dakota women's hockey team has been picked third in the 2015-16 Western Collegiate Hockey Association's Preseason Coaches' Poll, the league released on Tuesday.
Minnesota claimed the top spot, earning six of eight first place votes for a total of 48 points. Wisconsin earned two first place votes and comes in second with 44 points.
After making the 2015 Final Face-Off championship game with then-first-year head coach Jim Scanlan, Bemidji State comes in a close fourth behind UND with 31 points.
Two-time WCHA Player of the Year Minnesota's Hannah Brandt was the near-unanimous pick for Preseason Player of the Year. Minnesota's incoming freshman Sarah Potomak also claimed the Preseason Rookie of the Year award, earning four votes. Ohio State's Jincy Dunne earned two votes for Preseason Rookie of the Year, while Wisconsin's Mikaela Gardner and Sophie Shaver earned one vote each.
The UND women's hockey team hosts the University of Manitoba for an exhibition contest on Sept. 25 at 7 p.m. Fans can get their first look at both the men's and women's hockey teams during the annual North Dakota Hockey Fan Fest this Sunday, Sept. 20, from 3-5 p.m. at Ralph Engelstad Arena.
| Rank |
Team (1st place votes) |
Points |
| 1 |
Minnesota (6) |
48 |
| 2 |
Wisconsin (2) |
44 |
| 3 |
North Dakota |
35 |
| 4 |
Bemidji State |
31 |
| 5 |
Minnesota Duluth |
26 |
| 6 |
Ohio State |
20 |
| 7 |
St. Cloud State |
13 |
| 8 |
Minnesota State |
7 |
(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 Player of the Year (votes)
Hannah Brandt, Sr., F, Minnesota (7)
Sarah Nurse, Jr., F, Wisconsin (1)
WCHA Preseason Rookie of the Year (votes)
Sarah Potomak, Fr., F, Minnesota (4)
Jincy Dunne, Fr., D, Ohio State (2)
Mikaela Gardner, Fr., D, Wisconsin (1)
Sophia Shaver, Fr., F, Wisconsin (1)
