The Wisconsin women's hockey team will open the season Friday ranked No. 2 in the nation, according to the USA Today, USA Hockey Magazine preseason poll which was released on Tuesday.
Wisconsin closed out the 2007-08 season ranked No. 2 after falling in the national championship game to the No. 1 ranked Minnesota Duluth, who reclaimed the top spot in the preseason poll. The top three spots are filled with WCHA teams with Minnesota ranked in the No. 3 spot. The WCHA and Hockey East lead all conferences with three teams in the poll.
Wisconsin comes off a 29-9-3 record and will play three ranked opponents all currently in the top-five. Along with conference foes, No. 1 Minnesota-Duluth and No. 3 Minnesota. Wisconsin will also play No. 4 New Hampshire Nov. 21-22 in Fort Myers, Florida.
The Badgers return most of their squad from last year. One key loss for the team though is the program's all-time leading scorer, Jinelle Zaugg.
The Badgers will open the season this Friday, Sept. 26 against Quinnipiac at 7pm at the Kohl Center.
Listen / Download – Coach Mark Johnson says Badgers hungry to win it all. :18