Women 2026-27

[Weder]

Dunno if this deserves its own thread:

https://www.ncaa.com/news/icehockey-women/article/2026-08-31/2027-womens-frozen-four-dates-changed

They've moved them from Friday/Sunday (March 19/21) to Sunday/Tuesday (March 21/23), ostensibly to allow them to be broadcast on ESPN's "linear channels" which I assume are the ones you have to pay extra for if you don't have cable. 

Linear channels means traditional cable channels. So I'm guessing this means they will probably put the semis on ESPNU or something instead of streaming-only, which is what I think they were the past few seasons.

[sah67]

Following the WCHA's trial run last year, the NCAA is allowing all women's conferences to "opt in" to a new rule allowing pucks to be played at any height, with no whistles for high sticking (apart from actual penalties). Or, as the NCAA calls it, "unlimited high sticking", which also sounds like some sort of bizarre credit card perk.

https://www.reddit.com/r/hockey/comments/1w3s7y4/milewski_the_ncaa_will_allow_womens_hockey/

[Weder]

No. 3 in ECAC preseason poll (Quinnipiac and Princeton are 1-2).

[billchu]

For anyone closer to the program than I am, what is the outlook for the women's team for the 2026-2027 season?  The preseason poll says 3rd. 

The issue last year was that the team had only 11 forwards.  The team looked exhausted by the end of the season.  With the nine person class coming in, there are now 14 F, 7 D, and 3 G.  Which of the newcomers are going to have a big impact?  Last year, only Curtis seemed to have a big impact. 

For Cornell to finish in the top three, they will need at least four of the newcomers to really shine.

Next year's incoming class also has nine skaters and is apparently ranked near the top, according to neutral zone.