University of Minnesota Athletics
Gopher Women's Hockey Ranked No. 3 In Preseason Poll
9/18/2006 12:00:00 AM | Women's Hockey
The University of Minnesota women's hockey team has been ranked No. 3 in the US College Hockey Online Preseason poll, announced today by USCHO. The Golden Gophers, who finished second at the NCAA Frozen Four last year, are ranked behind reigning champion Wisconsin and New Hampshire. The USCHO.com Poll is compiled weekly and consists of 15 voters, including 12 coaches of Division I programs and three women's hockey writers. Minnesota is one of three Western Collegiate Hockey Association teams represented in the polls, along with the Badgers and Minnesota Duluth as the eighth-ranked team.
The Gopher women's hockey team finished last season with a 29-11-1 overall record and a 19-8-1 mark in the Western Collegiate Hockey Association. After finishing in a tie for second place in the WCHA regular season championship, the Gophers defeated Princeton, 4-0, in the NCAA Regional last year to advance to its fifth-straight NCAA Frozen Four appearance. Minnesota defeated No. 1 New Hampshire to play in their third-consecutive Frozen Four championship game. Minnesota opens its season with an exhibition game against the Minnesota Whitecaps, Sept. 29 at 7 p.m. in Ridder Arena. The Maroon and Gold start their regular season by hosting the Easton Shootout, Oct. 6-7. Minnesota faces Maine on Oct. 6, while competing against UNH on Saturday. Also competing in the Easton Shootout will be WCHA's Bemidji State.
