WCHA Women’s Preseason Poll

The women’s WCHA held their annual preseason conference call this morning, and with it came the release of this year’s preseason coaches’ poll.

Once again, Minnesota and Wisconsin are expected to fight it out for the top two spots in the league, and if the preseason poll in any indication, it is expected to be a close race, with the Gophers edging out the Badgers in the poll by a single point.

Here’s the full poll:

Rank Team (1st Place Votes) Points

1 Minnesota (4) 34

2 Wisconsin (3) 33

3 Minnesota Duluth 23

Ohio State 23

5 Bemidji State 14

6 St. Cloud State 11

7 Minnesota State 9

Ohio State junior goalie Kassidy Sauve was a near-unanimous pick for preseason player of the year, with Wisconsin sophomore Abby Roque receiving one vote.

Minnesota freshman Grace Zumwinkle was the preseason rookie of the year, receiving four votes. Minnesota Duluth’s Ashton Bell, Bemidji State’s Claire DeGeorge, and Ohio State’s Emma Maltais also received a vote. For more on the WCHA’s newcomers, here is our breakdown of the league’s rookies.