MADISON, Wis. -- University of Wisconsin-River Falls, the two-time defending conference champion, has been picked to the capture the 2023 Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) women's ice hockey championship, according to a preseason poll conducted by the league's head coaches and sports information directors. 
 
The Falcons posted their conference-best eighth first-place finish last season and won the WIAC Tournament (O'Brien Cup) for the seventh time. UW-River Falls' 27 victories a season ago established a program record and the Falcons received a NCAA bid for the 13th time in program archives. UW-River Falls also put together a conference-best 20-game winning streak. The Falcons bring back four All-WIAC first team honorees from last season, including Abigail Stow, who is a four-time All-WIAC first team performer. 
 
UW-Eau Claire owns one regular-season championship and a pair of O'Brien Cup trophies. The Blugolds welcome back three All-WIAC performers from last season – Stephanie Martin, Samantha Scherling and Hallie Sheridan. 
 
UW-River Falls is followed in the predictions by: UW-Eau Claire; UW-Stevens Point; UW-Superior; and Northland College. 
 
All five teams will qualify for the WIAC Tournament (O'Brien Cup), which begins Feb. 21 with a first round game between the No. 5 seed and No. 4 seed. The first-round winner will advance to the semifinals Feb. 24-25 against the No. 1 seed, while the No. 2 seed and No. 3 seed will square off in the other semifinal. The semifinal winners will meet for the O'Brien Cup on March 4. All contests will be played at the higher seed. 
 
2022-23 Preseason Predictions – Voted on by WIAC Head Coaches and Sports Information Directors (2021-22 records)
1.  UW-River Falls (27-2 overall, 8-1 WIAC) 
2.  UW-Eau Claire (23-6, 8-2) 
3.  UW-Stevens Point (12-15, 5-6) 
4.  UW-Superior (10-14-1, 4-4) 
5.  Northland College (1-24-1, 0-12)