University of Minnesota Athletics
Gophers Named Preseason WCHA Favorite
9/23/2014 12:00:00 AM | Women's Hockey
MINNEAPOLIS - The Golden Gopher women's hockey team has been named the Western Collegiate Hockey Association's 2014-15 preseason favorite, collecting six first-place votes and 48 points in the annual preseason poll of the league's eight head coaches, the WCHA announced Tuesday.
Minnesota won the WCHA Final Face-off playoff championship each of the last three seasons and is the two-time defending WCHA regular season champion. The Gophers enter the 2014-15 season poised to defend both titles.
Junior forward Hannah Brandt has been named the coaches' unanimous preseason choice for 2014-15 WCHA Player of the Year after collecting the same honors in 2013-14. Brandt wrapped up her sophomore season as a top-three finalist for the Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award, the WCHA Player of the Year and an AHCA/CCM First Team All-American honoree.
Behind Minnesota, Wisconsin placed second in the WCHA coaches' poll with 44 points and two first-place votes. Minnesota Duluth (34 points) edged out North Dakota (33 points) for third place in the coaches' poll, and Ohio State (26), Minnesota State (17), Bemidji State (13) and St. Cloud State (9) rounded out the poll.
Wisconsin freshman forward Annie Pankowski was selected as the head coaches' preseason WCHA Rookie of the Year.
The Gophers received the preseason No. 1 national ranking from USCHO.com as well, securing 12 of 15 first place votes. No. 2 Wisconsin, No. 8 North Dakota and No. 10 Minnesota Duluth join Minnesota in representing the WCHA in USCHO.com's preseason poll. The USA Today/USA Hockey Magazine preseason poll is expected to be released Tuesday afternoon.
Minnesota opens the 2014-15 season by hosting Penn State at 7 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 3. The Gophers then face Boston University at 7 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 4. The season-opening weekend at Ridder Arena also includes St. Cloud State taking on BU at 4 p.m. Friday and the Huskies facing the Nittany Lions at 4 p.m. Saturday.
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