New looks, there are a lot of them this year across the D-III hockey landscape. OK, you might even say why is the guy from the east covering the WIAC? Well, like the hockey landscape so too has the coverage changed. I will only hope to be able to come close to all Brian Lester did in his many years covering the west. So here we go…
Added to the WIAC this season is first year program Beloit which has found opportunity with the closure of Northland College to fill its roster and coaching staff. They join a league where the competition is fierce and the championship can go anywhere as we saw last year with Eau Claire taking the title with a win over River Falls. So, what is in store for this year?
The Favorite
Wisconsin – Stevens Point has to be considered the early favorite if only for one reason. Any roster with the two-time conference player of the year and All-American status like Fletcher Anderson will only help make his surrounding cast better. Anderson (40G – 55A – 95 Pts) has led the team in scoring since his first-year at Stevens Point and has improved the totals each year which probably scares others in the league based on past history. If the complementary play is there with consistent goaltending, the Pointers will be hard to beat.
The Dark Horse
Wisconsin Superior returns a solid roster with Justin Dauphinais and Ikki Kogawa pacing the offensive numbers among the returning players. Goaltending is deep and solid with junior Jack Boschert, junior Kobe Grant and senior Jan Skorpik all playing well for the yellowjackets last season. With strength in the crease, Superior will be a tough out for any team and could play for it all come playoff time.
Players to watch:
Beloit: Luke VanBaalen – defense; Valerii Kneib – forward
Wisconsin – Eau Claire: Tyler Herzberg – forward; Max Gutjahr – goaltender
Wisconsin – River Falls: Dylan Smith – forward; Brennan Boynton – goaltender
Wisconsin – Stevens Point: Fletcher Anderson – forward; Nico Chmelevski – forward
Wisconsin – Stout: Nicholas Stevens – forward; Nicolas Pigeon – forward
Wisconsin – Superior: Ikki Kogawa – forward; Justin Dauphinais – forward
USCHO Predicted finish
- Wisconsin – Stevens Point
- Wisconsin – Superior
- Wisconsin – Eau Claire
- Wisconsin – River Falls
- Wisconsin – Stout
- Beloit
Stevens Point will open their season on Friday playing in the Key City Collegiate Classic hosted by Dubuque who will be the Pointers first opponent in the 2025-2026 season. The other two teams in the season opening tournament are Aurora and Augsburg which should showcase some great hockey to start the new season.