Gopher women, UMD in top 5 of preseason hockey poll
Coming off their first conference championship in three seasons, the Gophers women’s hockey team open the 2022-23 season as the second ranked team in the nation, according to the USCHO.com Preseason Division 1 Women’s Hockey Poll.
The WCHA holds the top three spots and four of the top five.
Defending national champs Ohio State were voted No. 1 by USCHO.com. Wisconsin came in third and Minnesota-Duluth was voted as the fifth-best team in the nation.
All four teams made last year’s NCAA tournament, with Minnesota and Wisconsin losing in the quarterfinals. Ohio State beat Minnesota-Duluth 3-2 in the national championship.
Ohio State received 17 first-place votes, Minnesota had two and Wisconsin got one.
The Gophers open the season Oct. 7 against Bemidji State at Ridder Arena.