(WIAC) – The Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) has announced its preview and predictions for the 2027 men’s ice hockey season. The predictions were voted on by the conference’s head coaches and sports information directors.
University of Wisconsin-Stout Polytechnic, the defending champion, has been selected to claim the regular-season title. The Blue Devils enter the 2026-27 campaign ranked No. 4 in the USCHO.com Division III Preseason Poll. They recorded the best season in program history in 2025-26 with a trip to the NCAA Division III semifinals, their first outright regular-season conference title, first Commissioner’s Cup and matched a program high with 23 victories.
The remaining order in the conference predictions feature: UW-Eau Claire (second); UW-River Falls (third); UW-Stevens Point (fourth); UW-Superior (fifth); and Beloit College (Wis.) (sixth).
WIAC teams will begin their non-conference schedules on Oct. 29, while the conference slate will start on Nov. 19. The top-five teams in the conference standings will qualify for the WIAC Tournament/Commissioner’s Cup (presented by Culver’s) with all games hosted by the higher-seeded team. A first-round game between the No. 5 and No. 4 seeds will take place Feb. 20, while semifinal games will be held Feb. 27. The championship contest is March 6 with the winner receiving an automatic NCAA bid.
2026-27 Preseason Predictions – Voted on by WIAC Head Coaches and Sports Information Directors
2025-26 Record
- UW-Stout Polytechnic (23-6-1 overall, 12-2-1 WIAC/37 pts.)
- UW-Eau Claire (16-8-2, 11-3-1/33 pts.)
- UW-River Falls (14-12-1, 7-8/21 pts.)
- UW-Stevens Point (12-13-2, 6-8-1/20 pts.)
- UW-Superior (13-11-2, 6-8-1/21 pts.)
- Beloit College (4-20-1, 1-14/3 pts.)
Team Capsules
Beloit College (Wis.)
Head Coach: Shane Buckley; 4th season (2nd at BEL); 6-72-1 (overall); 4-20-1 (at BEL)
Letterwinners Returning/Lost: 21/9
Goalies Returning/Lost: 2/1
Returning All-WIAC: None
Notable Returning Players: Landon Adams, So., F; Val Kneib, Sr., F; Mac Reed, Jr., D; Ben Stewart, Sr., F
UW-Eau Claire
Head Coach: Matt Loen; 20th season at UWEC; 299-177-37
Letterwinners Returning/Lost: 15/12
Goalies Returning/Lost: 0/3
Returning All-WIAC: Nolan Grier, Jr., F (2026-Honorable); Dayne Hoyord, Sr., F (2025-Honorable)
Notable Returning Players: Max Dronen, Jr., F; Logan Ganz, So., F; Tyler Herzberg, Sr., F; Easton Inglis, Jr., F
UW-River Falls
Head Coach: Steve Freeman; 31st season at UWRF; 481-295-68
Letterwinners Returning/Lost: 14/11
Goalies Returning/Lost: 1/2
Returning All-WIAC: Alex Atwill, Jr., F (2026-Honorable); Keenan Ingram, So., F (2026-First/Player of the Year and Newcomer of the Year); Luke Margenau, So., D (2026-First); Jonny Meiers, Sr., F (2024-Honorable, 2025-First); Gavin Middendorf, So., F (2026-First); Ben Portner, So., F (2026-Honorable); Cole Teleki, Sr., D (2025-First, 2026-Honorable)
Notable Returning Players: Hunter Jones, Sr., F; Reid Lune, Jr., F; Tyler Lee, Jr., D; Zach Sondreal, So., D
UW-Stevens Point
Head Coach: Tyler Krueger; 10th season at UWSP; 168-54-20
Letterwinners Returning/Lost: 21/5
Goalies Returning/Lost: 2/2
Returning All-WIAC: Nico Chmelevski, Sr., F (2025-First, 2026-First); Michael Eftimovski, Sr., D (2025-Honorable); Ryan Hintz, Jr., F (2026-Honorable)
Notable Returning Players: Owen Dean, Sr., F; Ryan Maguire, Sr., G; Blake Norris, Jr., D; Gabe Randel, So., F
UW-Stout Polytechnic
Head Coach: Mike MacDonald; 7th season at UWST; 77-70-6
Letterwinners Returning/Lost: 17/9
Goalies Returning/Lost: 1/2
Returning All-WIAC: Sebastian Monaco, So., G (2026-First); Hayden Stocks, Jr., F (2026-First); Nicolas Pigeon, Sr., F (2024-First, 2025-First, 2026-Honorable)
Notable Returning Players: Felix Cadieux-Fredette, Jr., D; Sam Kroon, Sr., D; Arhip Sidarovich, So., F; Nicholas Stevens, Jr., F
UW-Superior
Head Coach: Rich McKenna; 11th season at UWS; 123-116-21
Letterwinners Returning/Lost: 17/11
Goalies Returning/Lost: 2/1
Returning All-WIAC: Jack Boschert, Sr., G (2024-First, 2025-First); Justin Dauphinais, Sr., F (2025-Honorable); Daniel Rozsival, Sr., F (2025-Honorable, 2026-First)
Notable Returning Players: Matt Danziger, Sr., D; Andrew Larson, So., F; AJ Reed, So., F; Roope Tuomioksa, So., F
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