The Bemidji State University women’s hockey team was picked to finish sixth in the Western Collegiate Hockey Association preseason coaches’ poll that was released by the league on Wednesday. Bemidji State received seventeen points, while defending national champions Minnesota Duluth were selected as this year’s favorite.

The Bemidji State women’s hockey team is looking to keep improving on its successes coming a historic season that saw the Beavers make their first-ever appearance in the WCHA FINAL FACE-OFF. BSU ended the 2009-10 season with one of its best records, finishing with an overall record of 12-19-7 (9-12-7-3 WCHA).

The 2010-11 squad will see all the top four scorers from the previous season return: forwards, Erin Cody (20, 13A), Annie Bauerfield (9G, 18A), Erin Johnson (11G, 7A) and defenseman Montana Vichorek (5G, 12A). The four combined for over half of the Beaver’s offensive output.

The team will also be returning junior goaltender Zuzana Tomcikova who garnered WCHA Co-Player of the Year and All-WCHA Second Team honors last year after posting a .938 save percentage, while making a 795 saves.

Bemidji State will host the Toronto Jr. Aeros in an exhibition match this Friday at the Neilson-Reise Ice Arena in Bemidji. The game is slated to start at 7:07 p.m.

WCHA Coaches’ Poll
1    Minnesota Duluth (6) 48
2    Wisconsin (2) 43
3    Minnesota 37
4    Ohio State 30
5    North Dakota 27
6    Bemidji State 17
7    St. Cloud State 13
8    Minnesota State 9

(First place votes in parentheses)
*Coaches could not vote for their own teams in poll and points were awarded on a 7-6-5-4-3-2-1 system