DULUTH, Minn. – The Northern Collegiate Hockey Association (NCHA) has released their preseason poll for the 2022-23 women's hockey season. The Trine University women's hockey team has been picked to finish sixth.
The Thunder received votes tallying 32 points to nab the sixth spot. Adrian College was picked to finish first with five first place votes and 60 points. St. Norbert College came in second in the poll with 54 points and two first place vote. Aurora University and Lake Forest College each also received one first place vote and ended up in third and fourth respectively.
Trine's spot in the poll represents exactly the team's finish last season when their record 9-17-1 overall and 6-9-1 in NCHA play earned them the sixth seed in the Slaats Cup Playoffs. The highlight of last season was the individual effort of then fifth year Brandi Wilson who shattered program scoring records and earned multiple national awards.
The team will look to overcome her absence this season by relying on the other two of the top three goal scorers for the team. Sophomores Kailey Mleko and Payton Hans return after finishing second and third in goals scored last year. Hans was the second highest point getter finishing with 24 points on eight goals and 16 assists.
The Thunder begin their season by traveling to face Stevenson University for a pair of games, the first of which is scheduled for 3 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 28.