Badgers earn top billing in WCHA Preseason Coaches' Poll
November 16, 2020 | Women's Hockey
Watts named Preseason WCHA Player of the Year
MADISON, Wis. – After earning No. 1 rankings in the preseason USCHO.Com Poll and the USA Today/USA Hockey Magazine Poll, it was no surprise Monday when the Wisconsin women's hockey team was pegged as the favorite in the WCHA, according to the WCHA Preseason Coaches' Poll.
UW earned 34 points and four first-place votes, while rival Minnesota was second with 31 points and three first-place votes. Ohio State, the Badgers' opening opponent of the 2020-21 season, was picked third with 28 points.
In addition, Daryl Watts, who led the NCAA in scoring last year and set a school record for assists in a single season, was voted the Preseason WCHA Player of the Year. The 2018 Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award winner also earned a spot on the Preseason All-WCHA team along with fellow forward Sophie Shirley, the 2019 WCHA Rookie of the Year.
The 2020-21 women's hockey season begins this weekend with four of the seven WCHA teams in action.
The Badgers open their campaign with a road series at Ohio State Nov. 27-28 in Columbus, Ohio.
1.  Wisconsin (4)                                                  34
2. Â Â Minnesota (3)Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 31
3.   Ohio State                                                        28
4.   Minnesota Duluth                                             21
5.   Bemidji State                                                    14
6.   Minnesota State                                               13
7.   St. Cloud State                                                  6
Predicted order of finish. Based on a 6-5-4-3-2-1 scale. Coaches could not vote for their own teams.
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Others receiving votes:Â Emma Maltais, Sr., F, Ohio State (2); Grace Zumwinkle, Sr., F, Minnesota (1); Gabbie Hughes, Jr., F, Minnesota Duluth (1)
Others receiving votes:Â Anne Cherkowski, Fr., F, Minnesota (1); Emma Gentry, Fr., F, St. Cloud State (1); Casey O'Brien, Fr., F, Wisconsin (1).
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F: Daryl Watts, Sr., Wisconsin
F: Sophie Shirley, Jr., Wisconsin
D: Ashton Bell, Sr., Minnesota Duluth
D: Emily Brown, Sr., Minnesota
G: Andrea Braendli, Jr., Ohio State
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UW earned 34 points and four first-place votes, while rival Minnesota was second with 31 points and three first-place votes. Ohio State, the Badgers' opening opponent of the 2020-21 season, was picked third with 28 points.
In addition, Daryl Watts, who led the NCAA in scoring last year and set a school record for assists in a single season, was voted the Preseason WCHA Player of the Year. The 2018 Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award winner also earned a spot on the Preseason All-WCHA team along with fellow forward Sophie Shirley, the 2019 WCHA Rookie of the Year.
The 2020-21 women's hockey season begins this weekend with four of the seven WCHA teams in action.
The Badgers open their campaign with a road series at Ohio State Nov. 27-28 in Columbus, Ohio.
WCHA Preseason Coaches' Poll
Rk. Team (First Place Votes)                         Points1.  Wisconsin (4)                                                  34
2. Â Â Minnesota (3)Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 31
3.   Ohio State                                                        28
4.   Minnesota Duluth                                             21
5.   Bemidji State                                                    14
6.   Minnesota State                                               13
7.   St. Cloud State                                                  6
Predicted order of finish. Based on a 6-5-4-3-2-1 scale. Coaches could not vote for their own teams.
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Preseason WCHA Player of the Year
Daryl Watts, Sr., F, Wisconsin (3 votes)Others receiving votes:Â Emma Maltais, Sr., F, Ohio State (2); Grace Zumwinkle, Sr., F, Minnesota (1); Gabbie Hughes, Jr., F, Minnesota Duluth (1)
Preseason WCHA Rookie of the Year
Abbey Murphy, Fr., F, Minnesota (4)Others receiving votes:Â Anne Cherkowski, Fr., F, Minnesota (1); Emma Gentry, Fr., F, St. Cloud State (1); Casey O'Brien, Fr., F, Wisconsin (1).
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Preseason All-WCHA
F: Emma Maltais, Sr., Ohio StateF: Daryl Watts, Sr., Wisconsin
F: Sophie Shirley, Jr., Wisconsin
D: Ashton Bell, Sr., Minnesota Duluth
D: Emily Brown, Sr., Minnesota
G: Andrea Braendli, Jr., Ohio State
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Players Mentioned
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