University of Connecticut Athletics
UConn No. 7 in Preseason National Polls
9/16/2026 1:45:00 PM | Women's Ice Hockey
STORRS, Conn. – The UConn women's hockey team will begin the 2026-27 season ranked No. 7 in both the USCHO and USA Hockey Polls, marking the highest preseason ranking in program history.
UConn opens the 2026-27 season with a two-game series at St. Cloud State from September 25-26.
Coming off their second Hockey East Tournament Championship in the last three years, the Huskies enter the 2026-27 season poised to defend their title and make another deep run in the NCAA Tournament. Head coach Chris MacKenzie enters his fourteenth season at the helm in Storrs. Under MacKenzie's leadership, the Huskies have captured four Hockey East Championships, two regular season titles, and two tournament championships.
UConn enjoyed its best season in program history in 2025-26, recording 28 wins, the most in the program's 26-year history. The historic campaign saw the Huskies climb as high to No. 5 in the national polls, the highest ranking in school history. UConn made its second NCAA Tournament appearance in the three years, earning the first NCAA Tournament victory in program history before falling one game short of the Frozen Four in the regional final. The Huskies concluded the season ranked No. 6 in both the USCHO and USA Hockey polls, extending their streak to 28 consecutive weeks ranked in the national polls.
UConn returns two of its top three point producers from the 2025-26 season in junior Claire Murdoch and senior Julia Pellerin. Murdoch, a team captain this season, tied the program's single season record with 27 assists last season while adding 12 goals. Pellerin ranked third on the Huskies roster with 14 goals in her first season in Storrs and contributed 16 assists.
