The Gophers women's hockey team, which has won back-to-back NCAA titles, is the WCHA coaches' pick to win the conference title this season in a preseason poll. Wisconsin was picked to finish second in the WCHA, and North Dakota third.
The league's eight coaches also chose sophomore forward Hannah Brandt of the Gophers as the preseason Player of the Year and teammate Dani Cameranesi as the Rookie of the Year.
Last season Brandt finished second in the nation in scoring with 33 goals and 82 points and was the WCHA Rookie of the Year.
Cameranesi was Ms. Hockey in 2013 and led Blake to the Class 1A state title. She had 200 goals and 357 career points for the Bears.
The Gophers will open their season with an exhibition game against Team Japan on Sept. 26.
Miami NCHC favorite
Miami, a former CCHA power, was picked to win the National Collegiate Hockey Conference title in a preseason media poll.
North Dakota was predicted to finish second, St. Cloud State third. They were followed by Denver, Western Michigan, Minnesota Duluth, Colorado College and Nebraska Omaha.
Miami had seven first-place votes and 115 points, UND five and 109, SCSU four and 99.
