WILKES-BARRE, Pa. - The Wilkes University women's ice hockey team finished eighth in the final USCHO.com poll of the 2025-26 season, as announced by the organization Monday afternoon. 

This is the first time in program history that the Colonels have broken into the top 10 of this poll, and they did so by embarking on the greatest season in their eight years of existence. 

Wilkes finished the regular season with a 22-1-1 overall record and 20-1- record in Middle Atlantic Conference play, earning the top seed in the MAC Championship Tournament for the second-straight season.

They went on to win the MAC Championship after dominant wins over Alvernia in the semifinals and Arcadia in the championship to earn the automatic qualifier to the Division III NCAA Tournament. In the NCAA Tournament, the Colonels took down the Adrian College Bulldogs in the first round by a score of 2-1 for their first tournament win ever.

Although they lost in the quarterfinals to the Nazareth University Golden Flyers 2-1 in overtime the following week, it was still a phenomenal season and a giant step forward for the women's ice hockey program as a whole.

Haylee Bouchard (Sioux Lookout, ON/) and Nina Hudakova (Košice, Slovakia/Hoosac Prep School) were both named CMM/AHCA All-Americans for record-breaking seasons in the navy and gold. Bouchard broke the single season points (53) and assists (36) records, while Hudakova broke the single season record for goals (22).

They were both named First-Team All-MAC for their play during the season, with Bouchard taking home the Player of the Year and Offensive Player of the Year awards. Alongside them, Hannah Franz (North Bay, ON/), Audrey Milne (London, ON), and Tilly Wierdsma (New Hartford, CT) all received All-MAC honors, and head coach Dave LaBaff was named Coach of the Year.

The best part for the Colonels is that all of those players, and many other important contributors to this team, will be returning next season. Wilkes will be in the mix at the top of DIII women's ice hockey once again during the 2026-27 season next winter.