MADISON, Wis. – The University of Wisconsin-Superior men's hockey team was tabbed to finish in third place in the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) in 2023-24, as the conference released its preseason preview in an announcement Thursday. During the 2022-23 season, the Yellowjackets finished in a tie for second place alongside UW-Eau Claire.
 
UW-Superior returns 16 letterwinners from last year's team that compiled an overall record of 15-12-2 and a WIAC record of 9-5-1, setting a school record with eight shutouts on the year. Highlighting the returning Yellowjackets are juniors Gavin Rasmussen (Cloquet, Minn./Cloquet Senior) and Reed Stark (Suffern, N.Y./Douglas County West), along with sophomore Tristan Therrien (Prévost, Québec/Newbridge Academy), and senior C.J. Walker (Boise, Idaho/Athol Murray College of Notre Dame).
 
Rasmussen made impacts on both sides of the ice skating in 25 games, blocking 12 shots and finding the back of the net four times, including a game winner. Stark compiled seven points last season off five goals and two assists in 14 games, having missed more than half the season due to injury. Therrien skated in 26 games, picking up 13 points on seven goals and six assists, carrying a +2 rating. Walker is the top returning scorer for the Yellowjackets, skating in all 29 games and compiling 17 points off 10 goals and seven assists.
 
The team who wins the Commissioner's Cup (WIAC Tournament) will receive an automatic bid to the NCAA Division III Championship. All six WIAC competitors will qualify for the postseason tournament, which kicks off Feb. 16-17. Both first-round winners from this weekend will move on to the semifinals, slated for Feb. 23-24. The WIAC Championship game is set for Mar. 2. All games are to be played at the higher seed.
 
The Yellowjackets commence the regular season Oct. 28 where they face bridge-rival St. Scholastica. Puck drop at Mars-Lakeview Arena is set for 7 p.m.