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Women's College Hockey: 2016-17 Preview

09/29/2016, 5:45pm CDT
By Peter Odney

Gophers Aim to Once Again Set the Gold Standard

Credit: Courtesy Gophersports.com.

Credit: Courtesy Gophersports.com.

It’s a case of the usual suspects, as the 2016-17 women’s college hockey season heats up this weekend with the University of Minnesota once again positioned among the country's best teams.

The defending champion Golden Gophers are currently ranked No. 2 in the United States College Hockey Online preseason poll, behind Western Collegiate Hockey Association foe Wisconsin. The top spot will likely be decided in an early December series against the Badgers.

While Minnesota and Minnesota-Duluth have each faced off against the Minnesota Whitecaps and St. Cloud State already started its season last week (6-0 and 4-2 losses to Wisconsin), the regular season begins in earnest tomorrow, as all five Minnesota-based D1 programs are in action. 

Following is quick snapshot of each Minnesota team:

Minnesota

2015-2016 Record: 35-4-1, 24-3-1 (NCAA Champions, 2nd in WCHA)

The Gophers seemingly always have the luxury of simply replacing talent with talent, and this season feels no different.

Senior forward Dani Cameranesi (33 goals, 35 assists, 68 points; 9th on Minnesota's all-time scoring list) is back, as is junior forward Kelly Pannek (23-26-49). Redshirt senior and U.S. Olympic Silver Medalist Lee Stecklein (8-22-30) returns to hold down the blue line for the Gophers.

The one question mark could be between the pipes, where the Gophers graduated last season’s starter Amanda Leveille. However, redshirt junior Sidney Peters impressed in limited action last season, posting a 6-0-0 record, .924 save percentage and 1.07 goals-against-average.

The Gophers begin their back-to-back title defense versus Lindenwood, tomorrow night at Ridder Arena. 

Credit: Courtesy Bemidji State Athletics.

Credit: Courtesy Bemidji State Athletics.

Bemidji State

2015-2016 Record: 22-11-3, 17-9- 2

The Beavers, ranked No. 11 in the preseason poll, set a program record last season with 22 wins, but now must replace their three leading scorers from the 2015-2016 campaign.

The lone returning player with at least 20 points last year is junior defender Alexis Joyce (8-12-20). 

The new keystone will be senior goaltender Brittni Mowat, who earned all 22 of those wins in addition to a 1.68 GAA and .938 save percentage. Due to the Beavers’ relative lack of scoring punch, Mowat’s performance now takes on significantly more importance.

Credit: Courtesy University of Minnesota Duluth Athletics.

Credit: Courtesy University of Minnesota Duluth Athletics.

Minnesota Duluth

2015-2016 Record: 15-21-1, 10-17-1

Despite posting a record below the .500 mark last season, the Bulldogs return several key pieces, and are ranked No. 12 in the preseason poll.

A pair of international imports are the keys to the Bulldog offense, with Brandon, Manitoba native Ashleigh Brykaliuk (18-29-47) and Lucern, Switzerland product Lara Stalder (17-24-41) back in action.

Sophomore goaltender Maddie Rooney (5-12-0, two shutouts) will be pushed for playing time by freshman Catherine Johnson, who joins the Bulldogs after being named All-State in her senior season for St. Paul United.

Credit: Courtesy SCSU Athletic Media Relations.

Credit: Courtesy SCSU Athletic Media Relations.

St. Cloud State

2015-2016 Record: 13-18-4, 9-15-4

The Huskies must make up for the offensive loss of last season’s leading scorer Molly Illikainen, and will try to do so with sophomore forward Julia Tylke (9-15-24) and junior defender Brittney Anderson (4-16-20). Tylke was named All-WCHA as the Huskies improved on 2014-2015’s 8-28-1 record.

The Huskies have already been swept by preseason No. 1 Wisconsin by scores of 6-0 and 4-2. Tylke and sophomore forward Hannah Potrykus scored in the second game for the Huskies.

Credit: Courtesy Minnesota State University Athletics.

Credit: Courtesy Minnesota State University Athletics.

Minnesota State

2015-2016 Record: 3-29-4, 0-25-3

Yes, the Mavericks won just three games last season and went winless in WCHA play.

However, the Mavericks return five players who scored at least 10 points last season, and could get an offensive boost from freshman Demi Gardner. Gardner totaled 96 goals and 121 assists for an impressive 217 points in her time at Warroad High School.

Another Minnesota high school product, Lakeville South’s Chloe Crosby, could bring competition to the goal crease, especially after being named All-State in 2016.

In addition to the new blood, the Mavericks will look to build on a one-goal loss to Minnesota last November, and a 5-5 tie with national power North Dakota last January.


Credit: Courtesy University of St. Thomas Athletics.

Credit: Courtesy University of St. Thomas Athletics.

Division III

Minnesota's Division III teams kick off their season on October 28, with No. 7 St. Thomas emerging as the preseason favorite to be the best of the bunch.

The Tommies shared the conference championship last season and later won the MIAC playoff title. They finished the season with a sparkling 20-6-2 mark, but were eliminated in the quarterfinals of the NCAA post-season. Repeating as playoff champs won't be easy, with seven seniors gone from the 2015-16 squad.

Bethel also looks to be a tough out in 2016-17, as the Royals received votes in the USCHO Preseason PollLast season Bethel captured its first-ever MIAC regular season crown, after finishing 12-4-2 in conference play.

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