UW Badgers women’s hockey team picked to excel in WCHA

MADISON, Wis. – Fresh off winning its fifth NCAA title, the Wisconsin women’s hockey team is picked to win its eight WCHA regular-season title, according to the league’s annual preseason coaches’ poll that was announced Wednesday.The Badgers earned 36 points and six first-place votes, while Minnesota earned 31 points and the other first place vote. The two Border Battle rivals will rekindle their rivalry with a series on Nov. 2-3 in Minnesota and a series Jan. 24-25 in Madison.Abby Roque was named the Preseason WCHA Player of the Year along with Ohio State forward Emma Maltais. Roque, who was the league’s forward of the year in 2016-17, was second on the Badgers last year with a career-high 43 points.Roque was one of four Badgers named to the Preseason All-WCHA Preseason Team along with 2019 WCHA Goaltender of the Year Kristen Campbell, 2019 WCHA Rookie of the Year Sophie Shirley and 2019 first-team All-WCHA selection Mekenzie Steffen.The Badgers open their season on the road with a series at Lindenwood on Sept. 27-28. UW will open its home slate a week later, Oct. 4-5, with a series against Penn State at LaBahn Arena. Single-game tickets for the Badgers’ 14 regular-season home games will go on sale on Sept. 17.Preseason All-WCHA TeamForward: Emma Maltais, Jr., Ohio StateForward: Grace Zumwinkle, Jr., MinnesotaForward: Abby Roque, Sr., Wisconsin (tie)Forward: Sophie Shirley, So., Wisconsin (tie)Defense: Jincy Dunne, Sr., Ohio State (unanimous)Defense: Mekenzie Steffen, Sr., WisconsinGoaltender: Kristen Campbell, Sr., WisconsinOthers receiving votes (listed alphabetically by position):Forwards: Clair DeGeorge, Jr., Bemidji State; Gabbie Hughes, Sr., Minnesota Duluth; Sarah Potomak, Sr., MinnesotaDefense: Emily Brown, Jr., Minnesota; Patti Marshall, Sr., MinnesotaGoaltender: Emma Polusny, Jr., St. Cloud State; Maddie Rooney, Sr., Minnesota DuluthPreseason WCHA Co-Player of the Year: Abby Roque, Sr., F, Wisconsin (2 votes) and Emma Maltais, Jr., F, Ohio State (2 votes)Others receiving votes: Jincy Dunne, Sr., D, Ohio State (1); Sophie Shirley, So., F, Wisconsin (1); Grace Zumwinkle, Jr., F, Minnesota (1) Preseason WCHA Rookie of the Year: Madeline Wethington, Fr., D, Minnesota (3)Others receiving votes: Grace Shirley, Fr., F, Wisconsin (2); Dara Grieg, Fr., F. Wisconsin (1); Klara Hymlarova, Fr., F, St. Cloud State (1)WCHA Preseason Coaches’ Poll1. Wisconsin (6 first place votes), 36 points2. Minnesota (1), 31 points3. Ohio State, 24 points4. Minnesota Duluth, 23 points5. Bemidji State, 15 points6. Minnesota State, 12 points7. St. Cloud State, 6 pointsPredicted order of finish, based on a 6-5-4-3-2-1 scale.Note: Coaches could not vote for their own teams.