MADISON, Wis. -- University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point, the defending conference champion, has been selected to win the 2023 Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) men's ice hockey title, according to a preseason poll conducted by the league's head coach and sports information directors. 
 
The Pointers, who enter the 2022-23 campaign ranked No. 10 in the DCU/USCHO.com NCAA Division III Preseason Poll, secured the 15th WIAC regular-season championship in program history last season. UW-Stevens Point welcomes back four All-WIAC selections from a year ago, including the Jordan Fader the conference's reigning Player of the Year. 
 
UW-River Falls owns a league-high 19 regular-season championships, while UW-Superior has eight, UW-Eau Claire three and UW-Stout one. 
 
UW-Stevens Point is followed in the predictions by: UW-Eau Claire; UW-River Falls; UW-Superior; UW-Stout; and Northland College. 
 
The winner of the WIAC Tournament (Commissioner's Cup) will receive an automatic bid into the NCAA Division III Championship this season. All six teams will qualify for the conference tournament, which begins Feb. 17-18 with first round series between the No. 6 seed and No. 3 seed, as well as the No. 5 seed and No. 4 seed. The two first-round winners will advance to the semifinals at the No. 1 and No. 2 seeds for a semifinal series Feb. 24-25. Both semifinal victors will face off for the Commissioner's Cup on March 4. All games 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-Stevens Point (21-6-1 overall, 11-2 WIAC) 
2.  UW-Eau Claire (18-11-1, 9-6) 
3.  UW-River Falls (13-13-1, 9-6) 
4.  UW-Superior (15-12-2, 6-6-1) 
5.  UW-Stout (8-19, 6-9) 
6.  Northland College (4-20-3, 1-13-1)