DULUTH, Minn. – The Northern Collegiate Hockey Association (NCHA) has released their preseason poll for the 2023-24 women's hockey season with Trine University selected to finish sixth.
The Thunder received votes tallying 34 points to secure the sixth spot. Adrian College was picked to finish atop the standings for the third-straight season with seven first-place votes and 78 total points. St. Norbert College came in second with 69 points and one first place vote and Aurora University rounded out the top three with 64 points and the remaining first-place vote.
Last year saw Trine finish sixth in the conference regular season. They ended up with a 10-17 record, after starting the season 0-7, and went 6-10 in NCHA play. Head coach Melissa Paluch took over as interim head after the poor start and led the team to the 10-10 finish over their final 20 games. This will be her first full season at the helm.
The Thunder return their three top point scorers from last season. Junior Payton Hans led the team with 29 points including 21 goals and eight assists, while classmate Kailey Mleko returns after finishing second with 25 points including 18 goals and seven assists. Fifth-year Gabrielle Hicks finished third with 4 goals and 13 assists.
Trine opens the season on Friday, October 27 with their game against SUNY Canton. That contest is set to start at 4 p.m.