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2015-16 WCHA WEEKLY RELEASE Week Two (September 28-Oct. 4, 2015) / wcha.com

@wcha_whockey @wcha_whockey /WCHAWomensHockey Matt Hodson ● o: 952-818-8872 ● c: 612-801-2808 ● [email protected]

WESTERN COLLEGIATE Opening Face-Off HOCKEY ASSOCIATION • Tradition Starts Here: The women's Western Collegiate Hockey Association (WCHA), home to a record 15 national championships in 16 seasons, has all eight teams in action this weekend for the first time in the 2015-16 campaign. • Founded 1999 • • A Look at the Polls: As the new season gets underway, the WCHA is in a familiar place with four teams in identical positions Minnesota State Univ., Mankato at Edina in both the USCHO.com and USA Today/USA Hockey Magazine national rankings. No. 1 Minnesota garnered preseason top 7700 France Avenue South, Suite 360C billing in both polls, while the Gophers are joined by 2015 Frozen Four opponent Wisconsin (No. 3) and 2015 Final Face-Off Edina, MN 55435 participants North Dakota (No. 6) and Bemidji State (No. 9 and tied for ninth- the Beavers' highest ranking since 2011-12). A 952-818-8869 fifth WCHA team, Minnesota Duluth, is receiving votes in both polls. • WCHA Hockey, Coast to Coast: Women's college hockey fans from the Pacific to the Atlantic will be able to watch the sport's MEMBER TEAMS premier conference this weekend, as WCHA teams will play as far west as San Jose, Calif. (Wisconsin vs. Providence) and as Bemidji State University far east as Boston, Mass. (Minnesota Duluth at Boston College), with a stop near the middle in Wentzville, Mo. (Ohio State at University of Minnesota Lindenwood). • Welcome to Division I: St. Cloud State will have the honor of welcoming the 36th Division I women's college hockey program, University of Minnesota Duluth as the Huskies visit Merrimack in the Warriors' first-ever regular season games. Minnesota State University • Nonconference Success: Bemidji State, Minnesota Duluth and Minnesota State continued the WCHA's run of nonconference University of North Dakota success, going a combined 4-0-2 against the CHA and ECAC Hockey during the season's opening weekend. WCHA teams Ohio State University finished the 2014-15 season with an NCAA-best 38-11-2 (.765) record against non-league opponents. St. Cloud State University • Successful Debuts: The season-opening weekend also marked a pair of WCHA head coaching debuts. Maura Crowell began University of Wisconsin her tenure at Minnesota Duluth with a road sweep at Lindenwood, while John Harrington, in his first games behind a women's bench, led Minnesota State to a win and tie against Union. This weekend, Crowell returns to Massachusetts, where she 15 National Championships coached for 10 years (on the staffs at UMass-Boston and Harvard), to lead the Bulldogs against No. 2 Boston College. • Potter Up Next: Four-time Olympic medalist and two-time WCHA Player of the Year Jenny Potter officially returns to the 76 All-Americans league this weekend for her D-I head coaching debut with Ohio State (at Lindenwood). 100+ Olympians and National Team Members By The Numbers • 5: Returning WCHA All-Americans, of the six the league had in 2014-15: First-team members Hannah Brandt (Sr., F, Minnesota) and Brittni Mowat (Jr., G, Bemidji State), and second-team selections Shelby Amsley-Benzie (Sr., G, North Dakota), Dani 2016 WCHA Cameranesi (Jr., F, Minnesota) and Lee Stecklein (Jr., D, Minnesota). FINAL FACE-OFF • 18 and 2: Games into the 2014-15 season until Minnesota State recorded its first win (going 0-16-1 before); and, games into CHAMPIONSHIP the 2015-16 campaign before the Mavericks earned a "W" (going 0-1-1 before). Saturday, March 5 & Sunday, March 6 • 104: Career games between the pipes for Minnesota Duluth senior goaltender Kayla Black, tied for the most in UMD history Ridder Arena; Minneapolis, MN and ninth-most in WCHA annals. Black also holds Bulldog records for career shutouts (19) and saves (2,558).

2016 • 221: Career points for Minnesota senior forward Hannah Brandt (90 goals, 131 assists). The NCAA's active career scoring leader, Brandt ranks 16th in NCAA history. • 360: Career wins for Wisconsin head coach Mark Johnson, who enters the 2015-16 season fourth all-time among Division I women's coaches (third among active bench bosses). • 2,125: Distance, in miles, between Madison, Wis. and San Jose, Calif. The third-ranked Badgers open their season against THIS WEEK IN THE WCHA Providence in a two-game series at Sharks Ice - the official training facility for the NHL's San Jose Sharks. Thursday, Oct. 1 No. 1 Minnesota at Penn State, 7:00 p.m. ET Elsewhere in the WCHA • No. 1 Minnesota at Penn State: The top-ranked Gophers begin their national title defense in State College, Penn. with a two- Friday, Oct. 2 game series against the Nittany Lions. Minnesota opened the 2014-15 season with an 8-0 home win over PSU. No. 9 Bemidji State at Vermont, 4:30 p.m. ET • No. 6 North Dakota at Rensselear: UND, which figures to be among the stingiest defensive teams in the country, opens its St. Cloud State at Merrimack, 6:00 p.m. ET Minnesota State at RIT, 6:00 p.m. ET season with a series in Troy, N.Y. against host RPI. Minnesota Duluth at No. 2 Boston College, • No. 9 Bemidji State at Vermont: The ninth-ranked Beavers, who were 11-9-1 away from home last year, travel to face the 7:00 p.m. ET Catamounts in a WCHA-Hockey East series. No. 1 Minnesota at Penn State, 7:00 p.m. ET • Minnesota State at RIT: Following an undefeated home weekend, the Mavericks are in Rochester, N.Y. to face the RIT Tigers. No. 6 North Dakota at Rensselaer, 7:00 p.m. ET Ohio State at Lindenwood, 7:00 p.m. CT 2015-16 WCHA Standings ^No. 3 Wisconsin vs. Providence, 7:07 p.m. PT Conference Overall Rk (Natl Rank) Team Pts GP W L T SW % GF GA GP W L T % GF GA Saturday, Oct. 3 1 (9) Bemidji State 0 0 0 0 0 0 .--- 0 0 2 1 0 1 .750 7 5 Minnesota State at RIT, 1:00 p.m. ET St. Cloud State at Merrimack, 2:00 p.m. ET (1) Minnesota 0 0 0 0 0 0 .--- 0 0 0 0 0 0 .--- 0 0 Minnesota Duluth at No. 2 Boston College, Minnesota Duluth 0 0 0 0 0 0 .--- 0 0 2 2 0 0 1.000 8 4 3:00 p.m. ET Minnesota State 0 0 0 0 0 0 .--- 0 0 2 1 0 1 .750 5 2 No. 6 North Dakota at Rensselaer, 3:00 p.m. ET (6) North Dakota 0 0 0 0 0 0 .--- 0 0 0 0 0 0 .--- 0 0 No. 9 Bemidji State at Vermont, 4:00 p.m. ET Ohio State 0 0 0 0 0 0 .--- 0 0 0 0 0 0 .--- 0 0 ^No. 3 Wisconsin vs. Providence, 3:07 p.m. PT Ohio State at Lindenwood, 7:00 p.m. CT St. Cloud State 0 0 0 0 0 0 .--- 0 0 0 0 0 0 .--- 0 0 (3) Wisconsin 0 0 0 0 0 0 .--- 0 0 0 0 0 0 .--- 0 0 ^-games played at Sharks Ice; San Jose, CA (shootout win = 1 additional point)

HOME OF A RECORD 15 NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP TEAMS 2000 • 2001 • 2002 • 2003 • 2004 • 2005 •2006 • 2007 • 2008 • 2009 • 2010 • 2011 • 2012 • 2013 • 2015 TRADITION STARTS HERE The Week in Review - Games of Sept. 25-27, 2015 #WCHA • No. 9 Bemidji State (vs. Robert Morris), Minnesota Duluth (at at No. 1 Minnesota 5, Minnesota Whitecaps 4 - EXHIBITION Lindenwood) and Minnesota State (vs. Union) combined to post a (Sept. 25 at Ridder Arena; Minneapolis, Minn.) 4-0-2 record in season-opening, nonconference series. Hannah Brandt and Kelly Pannek each scored twice, and Kate • UMD's Maura Crowell (2-0-0) and MSU's John Harrington (1-0-1) Schipper netted the game-winning goal as defending national champion both guided their teams to undefeated showings in their debuts Minnesota tuned up for the season by defeating the Minnesota behind the bench. Whitecaps, 5-4, in an exhibition game Friday night. • No. 1 Minnesota (vs. Minnesota Whitecaps), No. 6 North Dakota (vs. Freshman Sarah Potamak (2a) also had a multi-point game in her Manitoba) and St. Cloud State (vs. Minnesota Whitecaps) all tuned first outing as a Gopher. up for the season with home exhibition wins. The Whitecaps, an elite post-college team featuring 11 former • Full recaps and box scores are available at wcha.com. Gophers, were led by two goals from Boston College alum Allie Thunstrom. at No. 9 Bemidji State 3, Robert Morris 1 at No. 9 Bemidji State 4, Robert Morris 4 - OT at No. 6 North Dakota 1, Manitoba 0 - EXHIBITION (Sept. 25 and 26 at Sanford Center; Bemidji, Minn.) (Sept. 25 at Ralph Engelstad Arena; Grand Forks, N.D.) Behind balanced scoring and the stellar work of WCHA Defensive No. 6 North Dakota received 17 combined saves from goalkeepers Player of the Week Alexis Joyce, No. 9 Bemidji State opened its season Shelby Amsley-Benzie (2), Annie Chipman (9) and Lexie Shaw (6) en with an undefeated weekend against visiting Robert Morris. route to a 1-0, exhibition victory over visiting Manitoba. Joyce scored the season's first goal in Friday's opener, then picked Freshman defenseman Anna Kilponen was credited with the game's up the secondary assist on Stephanie Anderson's game-winning goal lone goal, scoring a second-period marker. For the game, UND outshot in the second period. The Beavers outshot Robert Morris 35-19 overall, the visiting Bisons by a 41-17 margin. with goaltender Brittni Mowat recording 18 saves in a 3-1 BSU win. The two teams also participated in a shootout at the conclusion of Lauren Miller, who scored the Beavers' final goal, also had a multi- the game, and freshman forward Rebekah Kolstad was the lone goal point night. scorer in the shootout as UND won that by a score of 1-0 as well. Eight different players found the scoresheet for BSU in Saturday's 4-4 draw, led by a one-goal, two-assist game from Hanna Moher. at St. Cloud State 4, Minnesota Whitecaps 3 - EXHIBITION Anderson also continued her hot start with an assist and a third-period (Sept. 25 at Herb Brooks National Hockey Center; St. Cloud, Minn.) goal that gave the Beavers a short-lived lead. Behind a goal and an assist from senior forward Molly Illikainen and 35 combined saves from Katie Fitzgerald (16) and freshman Taylor at Minnesota State 2, Union 2 - OT Crosby (19), St. Cloud State posted a 4-3, exhibition victory over the at Minnesota State 3, Union 0 visiting Minnesota Whitecaps. The game featured a wild third period (Sept. 26 and 27 at All Seasons Arena; Mankato, Minn.) that saw six goals and, three ties and two lead changes. In the end of one era and the beginning of another, Minnesota Illikainen's goal knotted the contest 2-2 at the 10:15 mark of the State enjoyed an undefeated final weekend at All Seasons Arena in the third, while her assist was the primary one on another SCSU goal just 17 Mavericks' first games under new head coach John Harrington. seconds later. Freshmen Suvi Ollikainen and Hannah Potrykus (game- Minnesota State came out flying in Friday's season opener, winner) also scored third-period goals for the Huskies, while senior outshooting Union 46-19 during an eventual 2-2 tie. However, the Mavs Vanessa Spataro produced the game's first score. found themselves trailing, 2-1, with just 1:48 remaining in the third period, before freshman Corbin Boyd delivered the clutch, game-tying goal. Katie Johnson, Anna Keys and Amanda Conway all found the back of the net Saturday, leading the Mavs to a 3-0 victory in just their second game - 16 games sooner than in 2014-15. Hannah Davidson added a pair of assists, while junior goaltender Brianna Quade posted 19 saves in her first career shutout.

Minnesota Duluth 4, at Lindenwood 3 - OT Minnesota Duluth 4, at Lindenwood 1 (Sept. 26 and 27 at Lindenwood Ice Arena; Wentzville, Mo.) Led by WCHA Offensive Player of the WeekAshleigh Brykaliuk, Minnesota Duluth and new head coach Maura Crowell opened the season with a road sweep at Lindenwood. Brykaliuk played the hero role in Saturday's season opener, taking a feed from Lara Stalder and scoring the game-winning goal with just one minute remaining in overtime, lifting the Bulldogs to a 4-3 win. UMD also received first career goals from sophomore Linnea Hedin and freshman Reagan Healey, while Stalder found the back of the net as well. Brykaliuk (1g, 2a) and Stalder (2g, 1a) each had multi-point efforts for the second-straight contest in UMD's 4-1, Sunday afternoon victory. Senior forward Michele Cava netted the game-winner with a second- period score, while senior goaltender Kayla Black stopped 23-of-24 shots in her 104th career game - matching Riitta Schaublin's all-time UMD record.

Week 2 (Sept. 28-Oct. 4, 2015) @wcha___whockey @wcha___whockey /WCHAWomensHockey wcha.com #TraditionStartsHere 2014-15 WCHA Season in Review #WCHA USCHO.com Honors: Several WCHA players and staff were recognized by the nother anner ear for the A B Y WCHA editorial staff at USCHO.com: Since its founding, the women's WCHA has set standards of excellence • Bemidji State’s Jim Scanlan was honored as the USCHO.com Coach of the unmatched by any other Division I conference - in any sport. The 2014-15 Year after leading the Beavers to a program-record 21 wins, their first- campaign was no exception, with Minnesota capturing its sixth national title, ever berth in the Final Face-Off championship game and a top-10 national WCHA players earning six of the 12 spots on All-America teams, numerous ranking. players competing internationally and the sport's best fans being treated to • UND’s Amsley-Benzie, along with UMN’s Brandt and Stecklein, were terrific hockey, night in and night out. named to the All-USCHO.com First Team; UMN’s Ramsey and BSU’s Mowat earned Second Team honors; UMN’s Cameranesi and Amanda Leveille On the Ice garnered Third Team accolades; while UW’s Pankowski and UMN’s Kelly National Champions: The WCHA won its 15th national championship in 16 Pannek were named to the All-Rookie Team. seasons, as Minnesota captured the 2015 Women’s Frozen Four for the Gophers’ sixth national title in program history. In the Classroom and In the Community Hockey Humanitarian Award: For her efforts in founding the Nikumbuke Polling Place: No. 1 Minnesota, No. 3 Wisconsin, No. 8 North Dakota and No. 10 Women’s Soccer League in rural Kenya, all while balancing a rigorous academic Bemidji State gave the WCHA an NCAA-best four teams (tied with the ECAC) in load and leading the Badgers on-ice, Wisconsin’s Brittany Ammerman was the the final polls. recipient of the 2015 BNY Mellon Wealth Management Hockey Humanitarian • Six of the WCHA’s eight teams spent at least one week ranked in the top 10 Award. of either the USCHO.com or USA Today/USA Hockey Magazine poll. • Minnesota Duluth’s Zoe Hickel was also a finalist for this prestigious award. Winning Hockey: For the first time in the league’s illustrious 16-year history, the Scholar-Athletes: Forty-seven (47) student-athletes, representing all eight WCHA featured five different 20-win teams: Minnesota (34), Wisconsin (29), member institutions, earned Scholar-Athlete Award status for maintaining a GPA North Dakota (22), Bemidji State (21) and Minnesota Duluth (20). of 3.50 or above. • Minnesota (No. 2 at .878), Wisconsin (No. 4 at .775), North Dakota (No. 9 at .635), Minnesota Duluth (No. 11 at .608), No. 13 Bemidji State (No. 13 All-Academic Team: Ninety-two (92) student-athletes, representing all eight at .551) and Ohio State (No. 15 at .514) gave the WCHA an NCAA-best (tied member institutions, earned a spot on the All-Academic Team for maintaining a with the ECAC) six of the nation’s top 15 winning percentages. GPA of 3.00 or above. Nonconference Success: The WCHA boasted, far and away, the best nonconference winning percentage in the country at .765 (38-11-2). In fact, the In the Stands WCHA was the country’s only conference to finish above .500 in nonconference See You at the Rink: WCHA schools ranked 1-4 nationally for average attendance, play. with fans heading through the turnstiles at Minnesota's Ridder Arena (2,037 per game), Wisconsin's LaBahn Arena (1,922), North Dakota's Ralph Engelstad Arena NCAA Tournament: In addition to Minnesota, the WCHA was also represented in (1,150) and Minnesota Duluth's AMSOIL Arena (1,130). the NCAA Tournament and Frozen Four by Wisconsin. Final Face-Off Attendance Grows: Year-over-year overall attendance at the Final International Stage:The WCHA continued to make its mark on international ice Face-Off, held in 2015 at UND's Ralph Engelstad Arena, increased by 62.9% to during the 2014-15 season. 3,406 (up from 2,090 in 2014). • Twenty-eight (28) current or former WCHA student-athletes, representing six member institutions and all four competing countries, participated in 2014-15 WCHA Season in Review the 2014 Four Nations Cup. • Forty (40) current or former WCHA student-athletes, representing seven Team member institutions and competing for six different countries, participated Regular Season Champion: Minnesota in the 2015 IIHF World Championships. Final Face-Off (Playoff) Champion:Wisconsin NCAA Tournament Participants: Minnesota and Wisconsin NCAA Champion: Minnesota

National Accolades Individual Rookie of the Year: Wisconsin freshman forward Annie Pankowski was chosen Player of the Year: Hannah Brandt, Jr., F, Minnesota as the National Rookie of the Year by the Women’s Hockey Commissioners Outstanding Student-Athlete of the Year: Shelby Amsley-Benzie, Jr., G, North Dakota Association and USCHO.com. Pankowski, who also earned WCHA Rookie of the Defensive Player of the Year: Rachel Ramsey, Sr., D, Minnesota. Year honors, led all NCAA freshman with 21 goals and 1.10 points per game (22 Rookie of the Year: Annie Pankowsi, Fr., F, Wisconsin assists for 43 points in 39 games). Coach of the Year: Jim Scanlan, Bemidji State Scoring Champion: Hannah Brandt, Jr., F, Minnesota (27gp, 21-29=50) Goaltending Champion: Shelby Amsley-Benzie, Jr., G, North Dakota (13-6-3, 1.17, .955) All-Americans: Six WCHA players earned CCM All-America honors – First Team members Brittni Mowat (G, Bemidji State), Rachel Ramsey (D, Minnesota) and All-WCHA First Team Hannah Brandt (F, Minnesota); and, Second Team selections Shelby Amsley- Forwards: Hannah Brandt, Jr., UMN; Dani Cameranesi, So., UMN; Blayre Turnbull, Sr., UW Benzie (G, North Dakota), Lee Stecklein (D, Minnesota) and Dani Cameranesi (F, Defensemen: Rachel Ramsey, Sr., UMN; Lee Stecklein, So., UMN Minnesota). Goaltenders: Shelby-Amsley Benzie, Jr., UND; Brittni Mowat, So., BSU

All-WCHA Second Team Patty Kaz Finalists:For the second straight year, Minnesota's Brandt was a Forwards: Brittany Ammerman, Sr., UW; Zoe Hickel, Sr., UMD; Annie Pankowski, Fr., UW top-3 finalist for the Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award. The junior forward ranked Defensemen: Milica McMillen, Jr., UM; Brigette Lacquette, Sr., UMD among NCAA leaders for goals (2nd - 34), assists (t3rd - 40), points (2nd - 74), points per game (3rd - 1.85) and game-winning goals (t6th - 6). All-WCHA Third Team • Gophers teammates Cameranesi (2nd nationally with 42 assists and 7th Forwards: Rachel Bona, Sr., UM; Becca Kohler, Jr., UND; Karley Sylvester, Sr., UW with 1.62 points per game) and Ramsey (2nd among defensemen with 9 Defensemen: Courtney Burke, Jr., UW; Halli Kryzaniak, So., UND goals and 33 points) were among the top-10 finalists. Goaltender: Ann-Renée Desbiens, So., UW. • North Dakota's Ashley-Benzie was the lone goaltender among the top-10 All-WCHA Rookie Team finalists. The junior netminder led the country with a .952 save percentage, Forwards: Emily Clark, Fr., UW; Annie Pankowski, Fr., UW; Kelly Pannek, Fr., UMN; while ranking fifth with a 1.21 goals against average and nine shutouts. Defensemen: Sydney Baldwin, Fr., UMN; Alexis Joyce, Fr., BSU Goaltenders: Kassidy Sauve, Fr., OSU

Week 2 (Sept. 28-Oct. 4, 2015) @wcha___whockey @wcha___whockey /WCHAWomensHockey wcha.com #TraditionStartsHere WCHA Players of the Week - Games of Sept. 25-27, 2015 #WCHA

Offensive Player of the Week Defensive Player of the Week Rookie of the Week

Ashleigh Brykaliuk Alexis Joyce Corbin Boyd Jr., F, Minnesota Duluth So., D, Bemidji State Fr., F, Minnesota State Brandon, Manitoba Lakeville, Minn. Minnetonka, Minn.

Brykaliuk compiled two goals – including the Joyce excelled on both ends of the ice as Be- Boyd opened her collegiate career in style, overtime game-winner Saturday – and three midji State opened its season with a win and producing late-game heroics Friday and a assists to help Minnesota Duluth open the tie against visiting Robert Morris. The soph- helper Saturday as Minnesota State started Maura Crowell era with a two-game road omore from Lakeville, Minn. led the Beavers the campaign with an undefeated week- sweep at Lindenwood. The product of Bran- with a +5 rating, tied for the team lead in end (1-0-1) against visiting Union. With the don, Manitoba had the game’s first assist Sat- points (three) and goals (two), and blocked Mavericks down 2-1 and just 1:48 remaining urday, before her overtime heroics with just two shots as part of a BSU defensive unit that in the third period of Friday night’s game, one minute remaining lifted the Bulldogs to limited its opponent to just 36 shots on the Boyd netted the tying strike for her first ca- a 4-3 win. The junior forward was at it again weekend. Joyce scored BSU’s season-open- reer goal. Her third-period assist Saturday Sunday, assisting on UMD’s first and third ing goal Friday night, then assisted on the helped seal a 3-0 victory for MSU – the first goals before netting her own at the 13:27 game-winning strike in a 4-1 victory. women’s win for new Mavericks head coach mark of the third period to seal a 4-1 victo- John Harrington. Overall, the freshman from ry. Overall, Brykaliuk posted a +3 rating and Also nominated: Minnetonka, Minn. tallied five shots and a logged six shots on goal during the series. Brianna Quade, Jr., G, Minnesota State +2 rating during her debut weekend

Also nominated: Also nominated: None Stephanie Anderson, Sr., F, Bemidji State; Katie Johnson, Sr., F, Minnesota State

Week 2 (Sept. 28-Oct. 4, 2015) @wcha___whockey @wcha___whockey /WCHAWomensHockey wcha.com #TraditionStartsHere 2015-16 Coaches' Poll #WCHA

Minnesota Tabbed as Preseason Favorite by 2014-15 WCHA Players of the Week WCHA Coaches Offensive The four teams that finished last season ranked in the top 10 nationally are the Date Player, Yr., Pos., School coaches’ preseason picks to finish atop the women’s Western Collegiate Hockey Sept. 26-27 Karley Sylvester, Sr., F, Wisconsin Association (WCHA) standings in 2015-16, led by defending league regular Oct. 3-5 Claudia Kepler, So, F, Ohio State season and national champion Minnesota. Sept. 26-27 Karley Sylvester, Sr., F, Wisconsin Oct. 3-5 Claudia Kepler, So, F, Ohio State The Golden Gophers are coming off a campaign which saw them win their third Oct. 10-12 Becca Kohler, Jr., F, North Dakota national championship in four seasons, the sixth in school history and the 15th Oct. 17-18 Dani Cameranesi, So., F, Minnesota Oct. 24-26 Hannah Brandt, Jr., F, Minnesota in 16 seasons for the WCHA. Head Coach Brad Frost’s team has also won the Oct. 31-Nov. 2 Ashleigh Brykaliuk, So., F, Minnesota Duluth last three WCHA regular season crowns, finishing 2014-15 with 72 points on the Nov. 7-11 Molly Illikainen, Jr., F, St. Cloud State strength of a 22-2-4 league mark. Minnesota collected six first place votes and Nov. 13-15 Meghan Lorence, Sr., F, Minnesota 48 points in the annual poll of the league’s eight head coaches. Nov. 21-24 Dani Cameranesi, So., F, Minnesota Nov. 28-30 Becca Kohler, Jr., F, North Dakota Wisconsin, another Frozen Four team from last season, placed second in the Dec. 5-7 Hannah Brandt, Jr., F, Minnesota coaches’ poll with 44 points and two first-place votes. In a close vote between Dec. 12-13 Andrea Dalen, Sr., F, North Dakota Jan. 2-6 Rachael Bona, Sr., F, Minnesota 2015 Final Face-Off participants, North Dakota (35 points) edged out Bemidji Lauren Miller, So., F, Bemidji State State (31 points) for third place. Jan. 7-11 Hannah Brandt, Jr., F, Minnesota Jan. 16-18 Maryanne Menefee, Jr., Minnesota Minnesota Duluth, with 26 points, was selected to finish in fifth place, while Jan. 23-25 Amy Menke, So., F, North Dakota Ohio State (20 points) was tabbed for sixth. St. Cloud State and Minnesota State Jan. 30 - Feb. 2 Emily Clark, Fr., F Wisconsin rounded out the poll. Feb. 6-7 Blayre Turnbull, Sr., F, Wisconsin Feb. 13-16 Dani Cameranesi, So., F, Minnesota Feb. 20-22 Dani Cameranesi, So., F, Minnesota Minnesota senior forward Hannah Brandt, the two-time defending WCHA Player of the Year, was the coaches’ choice for the same honors again in 2015-16. Defensive Gophers’ freshman forward Sarah Potomak is the preseason favorite for WCHA Date Player, Yr., Pos., School Rookie of the Year, edging out Ohio State’s Jincy Dunne and a pair of Badgers Sept. 26-27 Ivana Bilic, Jr., D, Bemidji State (Mikaela Gardner and Sophia Shaver). Oct. 3-5 Lee Stecklein, So, D, Minnesota Oct. 10-12 Ann-Renée Desbiens, So., G, Wisconsin Oct. 17-18 Audrey Hanmer, Sr., D, St. Cloud State 2015-16 WCHA Coaches' Poll Amanda Leveille, Jr., G, Minnesota Rank Team (1st Place Votes) Points Oct. 24-26 Milica McMillen, Jr., D, Minnesota Oct. 31-Nov. 2 Brittni Mowat, So., G, Bemidji State 1 Minnesota (6) 48 Nov. 7-11 Stacy Danczak, Jr., G, Ohio State 2 Wisconsin (2) 44 Nov. 13-15 Brittni Mowat, So., G, Bemidji State 3 North Dakota 35 Nov. 21-24 Ann-Renée Desbiens, So., G, Wisconsin 4 Bemidji State 31 Nov. 28-30 Kayla Black, Jr., G, Minnesota Duluth 5 Minnesota Duluth 26 Ann-Renée Desbiens, So., G, Wisconsin 6 Ohio State 20 Dec. 5-7 Ivana Bilic, Jr., D Bemidji State 7 St. Cloud State 13 Dec. 12-13 Katie Fitzgerald, Jr., G, St. Cloud State Jan. 2-6 Kassidy Sauve, Fr., G, Ohio State 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 Jan. 7-11 Kari Schmitt, Sr., D, Ohio State system) Jan. 16-18 Shelby Amsley-Benzie, Jr., G. North Dakota Jan. 23-25 Brigette Lacquette, Sr., D, Minnesota Duluth Jan. 30 - Feb. 2 Shelby Amsley-Benzie, Jr., G, North Dakota WCHA Preseason Player of the Year Feb. 6-7 Ann-Renée Desbiens, So., G, Wisconsin Hannah Brandt, Sr., F, Minnesota (7 votes) Feb. 13-16 Shelby Amsley-Benzie, Jr., G, North Dakota Others receiving votes: Sarah Nurse, Jr., F, Wisconsin (1) Feb. 20-22 Shelby Amsley-Benzie, Jr., G, North Dakota Julie Friend, Sr., G, St. Cloud State WCHA Preseason Rookie of the Year Sarah Potomak, Fr., F, Minnesota (4) Rookie Others receiving votes: Jincy Dunne, Fr., D, Ohio State (2); Mikaela Gardner, Fr., Date Player, Yr., Pos., School D, Wisconsin (1); Sophia Shaver, Fr., F, Wisconsin (1) Sept. 26-27 Annie Pankowski, F, Wisconsin Oct. 3-5 Emily Clark, F, Wisconsin Oct. 10-12 Michelle Löwenhielm, F, Minnesota Duluth Oct. 17-18 Kassidy Sauve, G, Ohio State Oct. 24-26 Baylee Wellhausen, F, Wisconsin Oct. 31-Nov. 2 Kassidy Sauve, G, Ohio State Nov. 7-11 None Nov. 13-15 Annie Pankowski, F, Wisconsin Nov. 21-24 Kelly Pannek, F, Minnesota Nov. 28-30 Alexis Joyce, D, Bemidji State Dec. 5-7 Kelly Pannek, Fr., F, Minnesota Dec. 12-13 Alexis Joyce, D, Bemidji State Jan. 2-6 Kelly Pannek, F, Minnesota Jan. 7-11 Nicole Schammel, F, Minnesota State Jan. 16-18 Emma Terres, D, Bemidji State Jan. 23-25 Annie Pankowski, F, Wisconsin Jan. 30 - Feb. 2 Nicole Schammel, F, Minnesota State Feb. 6-7 Lauren Spring, F, Ohio State Feb. 13-16 Alexis Joyce, Fr., D, Bemidji State Feb. 20-22 Jessica Healey, D, Minnesota Duluth

Week 2 (Sept. 28-Oct. 4, 2015) @wcha___whockey @wcha___whockey /WCHAWomensHockey wcha.com #TraditionStartsHere National Polls, Non-Conference Comparison and Head-to-Head #WCHA

USCHO.com USA TODAY/USA Hockey Magazine Sept. 21, 2015 Sept. 29, 2015 Rk Team (1st Place Votes) Record Points Last Poll Rank Team, Points (1st place) Last Wk Record Top 10 1 Minnesota (15) 34-3-4 150 1 1. Minnesota, 190 (19) 1 34-3-4 1 2 Boston College 34-3-2 128 3 2. Boston College, 162 4 34-3-2 1 3 Wisconsin 29-7-4 124 4 3. Wisconsin, 155 3 29-7-4 1 4 Harvard 27-6-3 101 2 4. Harvard, 134 2 27-6-3 1 5 Clarkson 24-11-3 84 7 5. Clarkson, 111 7 24-11-3 1 6 North Dakota 22-12-3 64 8 6. North Dakota, 80 8 22-12-3 1 7 Quinnipiac 26- 9-3 56 6 7. Quinnipiac, 78 6 27-10-3 1 8 Boston University 25-9-3 49 5 8. Boston University, 64 5 25-9-3 1 9 Bemidji State 21-17-1 25 10 T9. Bemidji State, 23 10 21-17-1 1 10 Cornell 19-11-3 18 9 T9. Northeastern, 23 — 14-17-5 1 Also receiving votes: Northeastern 11, Mercyhurst 6, Minnesota Also receiving votes: Cornell, 14; Mercyhurst, 5; Minnesota Duluth, 3; Duluth 5, St. Lawrence 4. Syracuse, 2; St. Lawrence, 1.

WCHA Against the Rest By Team vs CHA vs ECAC vs HEA vs Ind Total Bemidji State 1-0-1 0-0-0 0-0-0 0-0-0 1-0-1 Minnesota 0-0-0 0-0-0 0-0-0 0-0-0 0-0-0 Minnesota Duluth 2-0-0 0-0-0 0-0-0 0-0-0 2-0-0 Minnesota State 0-0-0 1-0-1 0-0-0 0-0-0 1-0-1 North Dakota 0-0-0 0-0-0 0-0-0 0-0-0 0-0-0 Ohio State 0-0-0 0-0-0 0-0-0 0-0-0 0-0-0 St. Cloud State 0-0-0 0-0-0 0-0-0 0-0-0 0-0-0 Wisconsin 0-0-0 0-0-0 0-0-0 0-0-0 0-0-0 TOTALS: 3-0-1 1-0-1 0-0-0 0-0-0 4-0-2 (.875) (.750) (.---) (.---) (.833)

By Site vs CHA vs ECAC vs HEA vs Ind Total Home 1-0-1 1-0-1 0-0-0 0-0-0 2-0-2 Away 2-0-0 0-0-0 0-0-0 0-0-0 2-0-0 Neutral 0-0-0 0-0-0 0-0-0 0-0-0 0-0-0 TOTALS: 3-0-1 1-0-1 0-0-0 0-0-0 4-0-2 (.875) (.750) (.---) (.---) (.833)

WCHA Head-to-Head (Final 2014-15) BSU UM UMD MSU UND OSU SCSU UW W-L-T-SW Pts BSU --- 1-2-1 2-2-0 4-0-0 2-2-0 0-4-0 3-1-0 1-3-0 13-14-1-1 41 UM 2-1-1 --- 3-0-1 4-0-0 3-1-0 3-0-1 4-0-0 3-0-1 22-2-4-2 72 UMD 2-2-0 0-3-1 --- 4-0-0 1-2-1 3-0-1 4-0-0 0-3-1 14-10-4-2 48 MSU 0-4-0 0-4-0 0-4-0 --- 0-4-0 0-4-0 1-2-1 0-4-0 1-26-1-0 4 UND 2-2-0 1-3-0 2-1-1 4-0-0 --- 3-0-1 4-0-0 0-3-1 16-9-3-2 53 OSU 4-0-0 0-3-1 0-3-1 4-0-0 0-3-1 --- 3-1-0 1-3-0 12-13-3-1 40 SCSU 1-3-0 0-4-0 0-4-0 2-1-1 0-4-0 1-3-0 --- 1-3-0 5-22-1-1 17 UW 3-1-0 0-3-1 3-0-1 4-0-0 3-0-1 3-1-0 3-1-0 --- 19-6-3-1 61

Week 2 (Sept. 28-Oct. 4, 2015) @wcha___whockey @wcha___whockey /WCHAWomensHockey wcha.com #TraditionStartsHere