Fryklund, Armstrong forecast Beavers' strength in returners at WCHA Media Day
· Yahoo Sports
Sep. 9—BEMIDJI — Amber Fryklund's third year at the helm of the Bemidji State women's hockey program certainly feels different than her first two, at least during the preseason.
At the Western Collegiate Hockey Association's Media Day on Wednesday, held virtually, Fryklund noted that the Beavers are ahead of schedule compared to last fall and the fall before that.
Visit extonnews.click for more information.
BSU has an incoming class of just four players with 21 returners. Fryklund and her staff brought in 23 players combined in the previous two seasons.
"It's a different feel," Fryklund said. "The first time we were on the ice with the players... it was almost like we picked up where we left off last season in our last game. It's really exciting. It's a different feel for us as coaches and how we're navigating our season, but also for our players, too."
Senior captain Hailey Armstrong also spoke to the media and shared Fryklund's sentiment.
"(Last season), we were still building those relationships on and off the ice during the preseason," Armstrong said. "This year, we already built those, and now we're just building off of them so we don't have to start fresh. We have a big leadership group. Only having four come in and having a big group of leaders, it's really like we're starting from where we were in April."
Each coach and a player from the league's eight schools spoke on Wednesday. For Bemidji State's representatives, many questions revolved around the program's rebuild.
The Beavers were picked to finish in eighth place unanimously in the league's preseason poll, which was released on Tuesday.
"We continue to try to elevate our standards in what we do," Fryklund said. "Where we finished last year is certainly not where we want to finish. That's a huge focus for us right now — continuing to make a push and trying to elevate in the standings every single weekend in the WCHA. It starts, for us, in practice. We made a lot of growth last year in a lot of areas."
Last season, the Beavers took a big step on special teams, raising the penalty kill percentage from 65.3% to 76.7%. They improved on draws, going from 43.7% to 46.9%. Scoring, shots per game, power-play goals and individual points each spiked as well after a large group of departures in 2025.
"Last year was a building block for us," Armstrong said. "Every year, we set our expectations higher. From previous years, last year was a step, and this year will be an even bigger step."
Fryklund said: "We feel like we're building a good foundation in where we're at. We want to continue making progress in our league. As we go into Year 3, it's relying on the experiences we've had — the growing pains, the successes, the key wins."
Armstrong spoke at last year's Media Day as well. She was named BSU captain for the second consecutive season.
"It means a lot to me," Armstrong said. "Being able to be a captain here — not once, but twice — and to have the group we have, it's definitely special. It's something I'll remember forever."
Bemidji State's players and coaches also know that this season comes with expectations previous years didn't have. With so many returning players,
including the top two offensive producers
from last year, the time to take a jump is now.
"You feel that pressure, but it's a good thing," Fryklund said. "Our players have that expectation that we want to do something special, so there is pressure. It's a good thing. Our players are really excited about that challenge and where we're at right now."
* St. Cloud State will not play games in the Herb Brooks National Hockey Center until Oct. 23. The finishing touches on the school's
$12.8 million rink renovation
will be completed at "the end of September," according to head coach Mira Jalosuo. The main sheet will shrink from Olympic-sized to 200 by 97 feet. The practice rink will be NHL-sized (200 by 85 feet). Jalosuo added: "When we play on the road, we can now practice in an NHL-sized sheet instead of going from Olympic-sized and trying to adjust in 24 hours to go to an NHL-sized sheet. In my opinion, it's an advantage for us that we have two sheets that are a different size here, so we can get the home advantage on the hybrid sheet and the NHL sheet to practice on for when we're on the road." St. Cloud State's first home series against UConn will be played at Torrey Arena. The Huskies' first home at HBNHC will be against Bemidji State.
* Ohio State head coach Nadine Muzerall was asked about which players she expects to have a breakout season. Muzerall said: "All of them. They're all very, very good." Ohio State was picked to finish first by league members.
* Muzerall was one of several league coaches asked about the date change to the IIHF Women's World Championships. The tournament runs from Nov. 6-16 instead of in April, meaning many top-end collegiate players will be away from their respective teams for over two weeks. Muzerall said: "It's like anything — if we can get through COVID, we can get through anything. We just have to adapt. That's what I think we do well here. We have a great support staff. Our football team is pretty successful, and with their success, we get a lot of resources from that. We're going to take care of (the player) before they leave and when they come back."
* Muzerall was also asked about the addition of Jack Johnson to the coaching staff. Johnson played in 19 NHL seasons before he was hired as an assistant coach. He's the third former NHLer to be on Muzerall's staff, including Andrew Cassels and James Wisniewski. Muzerall said: "It's a small, intimate world we have here in Columbus and our hockey world. He has three young children who are 8, 10 and 12, and I have a 10- and 12-year-old as well. We see each other at the rinks. He approached one of the dads on my son's team, asking about the opportunity because James was leaving. ... He's a family man and probably wants to have that balance in his life where he's committed to our program but gets to be a husband and a dad. It's a great environment for his kids to grow up around these bad-ass women who are playing for Ohio State, trying to win a national championship and win gold medals for their country."
* Minnesota Duluth has 17-year-old defenseman Renée Lapointe on its roster from Barrie, Ontario. Lapointe was invited to the U18 Canadian National Camp in August and is one of the youngest players in UMD's program history. Head coach Laura Schuler said: "This is another kid who averages over a point per game in the U22 Elite League. She was just dominant all the way through at the Midget level, bypassed the intermediate level and went right up to the U22s and was just dominant. She is an offensive defenseman. Her puck skills are incredible. She sees the ice so well. I think she's going to bring a flair to our blue line as well. ... We're so excited that she decided to come a year early and be a part of our program, and I know she's going to do some great things for us."
* Minnesota State senior defenseman Lauren Zawoyski received votes to be on the 2026-27 Preseason All-WCHA team. She moved from forward to defense ahead of her junior season after playing on the wing for two years. Zawoyski is a native of Edina and played forward in high school before receiving WCHA preseason recognition as a defender. She was also named to the U.S. College Selects Team this summer. Head coach Shari Dickerman said: "Big Z has all the tools. She's an unbelievable skater and a powerful athlete. You look at her in her gear and think, 'That's a hockey player.' Heavy shot, passes firm and she can play physical. ... She did all the right things (at forward0, but we talked to her in the offseason about playing D. She's a big right shot, and maybe if everything was out in front of her a little more, she'd see the ice and feel more comfortable. It's been awesome to watch her grow last season. She has 38 college games under her belt at D and made the U.S. college team. ... I hope it's starting to sink in that she's one of the best in our league and one of the best in college hockey."
* Wisconsin, the defending national champion, will look much different this season without players like Kirsten Simms, Caroline Harvey, Laila Edwards and other impactful departures from last season. One returner, though, is expected to have a big impact again. Head coach Mark Johnson spoke about goaltender Ava MacNaughton, saying: "I think some of the experiences she's had in her three years she's been at Wisconsin and knowing her work habits, she'll continue to excel. Some of the things we've seen over her career indicate she wants to continue to improve. Through the experiences she's had, she reflects on them and pushes herself. Monday always comes. Whether it was a great weekend or not a great weekend, it's about what you do on Monday to get better. That's what she does. It's nice to have her back there."
* Minnesota junior defenseman Chloe Primerano was one of three 2025-26 WCHA players invited to the Edmonton Oilers' development camp in July. She joined former teammate Abbey Murphy and UMD's Caitlin Kraemer. On Wednesday, Primerano said: "It was an incredible opportunity. It was so special that we were able to go out there. Grateful for the Oilers for having us out. It's really cool to see how NHL players get treated and the facilities and all of that stuff. Just such a great opportunity and really grateful they had us out there."