2015–16 NCAA Division I women's ice hockey season

The 2015–16 NCAA Division I women's ice hockey season began in September 2015 and ended with the 2016 NCAA Division I women's ice hockey tournament's championship game in March 2016.

2015–16 NCAA Division I women's ice hockey season
University of New Hampshire's Whittemore Center in Durham, NH was the site for the 2016 Frozen Four (Women)
Duration	September 27, 2015– March 20, 2016
NCAA tournament	2016
National championship	Whittemore Center Durham, NH
NCAA champion	Minnesota Golden Gophers
Patty Kazmaier Award	Kendall Coyne, Northeastern ()
NCAA Division I women's ice hockey seasons ← 2014–15 2016–17 →

Pre-season polls

Main article: 2015–16 NCAA Division I women's ice hockey rankings

The top 10 from USCHO.com, September 21, 2015, and the top 10 from USA Today/USA Hockey Magazine,^[1][2] First place votes are in parentheses.

USCHO.com
Ranking	Team
1	Minnesota (15)
2	Boston College
3	Wisconsin
4	Harvard
5	Clarkson
6	North Dakota
7	Quinnipiac
8	Boston University
9	Bemidji State
10	Cornell

USA Today/USA Hockey Magazine
Ranking	Team
1	Minnesota (19)
2	Wisconsin
3	Boston College
4	Harvard
5	Clarkson
6	North Dakota
7	Quinnipiac
8	Boston University
9 - tie	Northeastern
9 - tie	Bemidji State

Regular season

Standings

• 2015–16 College Hockey America standings v t e
  	Conference								Overall
  	GP	W	L	T	PTS	GF	GA		GP	W	L	T	GF	GA
  Mercyhurst†*	20	14	3	3	31	55	26		35	19	11	5	92	74
  Syracuse	20	14	4	2	30	56	28		36	19	14	3	96	77
  Penn State	20	6	8	6	18	33	35		37	12	19	6	65	76
  Robert Morris	20	7	9	4	18	52	57		38	17	16	9	108	97
  Lindenwood	20	5	11	4	14	31	46		37	9	24	4	64	102
  RIT	20	4	15	1	9	25	60		36	8	27	1	51	108
  Championship: Mercyhurst † indicates conference regular season champion * indicates conference tournament champion Current rankings: USCHO.com Division I women's poll

• Rankings based on number of wins in the conference

• 2015–16 Division I Independents standings[3] v t e
  	Overall
  	GP	W	L	T	GF	GA
  Sacred Heart	27	12	13	2	68	60

• 2015–16 ECAC Hockey standings v t e
  	Conference								Overall
  	GP	W	L	T	PTS	GF	GA		GP	W	L	T	GF	GA
  #5 Quinnipiac†*	22	16	2	4	36	70	18		38	30	3	5	118	35
  #4 Clarkson	22	14	3	5	33	78	30		40	30	5	5	140	54
  #7 Princeton	22	14	6	2	30	67	41		33	22	9	2	102	61
  #8 Colgate	22	12	5	5	29	58	49		38	22	9	7	109	86
  Harvard	22	12	7	3	27	53	33		32	17	12	2	78	59
  St. Lawrence	22	9	8	5	23	45	47		38	17	15	6	93	98
  Cornell	22	9	9	4	22	49	58		31	13	14	4	72	87
  Rensselaer	22	8	9	5	21	38	49		34	10	17	7	62	80
  Yale	22	9	11	2	20	58	62		29	10	17	2	71	94
  Dartmouth	22	6	13	3	15	43	51		28	6	19	3	51	74
  Brown	22	1	18	3	5	25	89		29	3	23	3	37	114
  Union	22	0	19	3	3	14	71		34	0	28	6	25	104
  Championship: Quinnipiac † indicates conference regular season champion * indicates conference tournament champion Final rankings:USCHO.com Division I women's poll

• 2015–16 Western Collegiate Hockey Association standings v t e
  	Conference									Overall
  	GP	W	L	T	SW	PTS	GF	GA		GP	W	L	T	GF	GA
  #3 Wisconsin*†	28	24	3	1	1	74	100	22		40	35	4	1	154	29
  #1 Minnesota	28	24	3	1	0	73	139	39		40	35	4	1	187	51
  #10 Bemidji State	28	17	9	2	1	54	56	51		36	22	11	3	77	68
  #8 North Dakota	28	13	10	5	2	46	54	49		35	18	12	5	79	62
  St. Cloud State	28	9	15	4	3	34	44	88		35	13	18	4	63	115
  Minnesota Duluth	28	10	17	1	0	31	67	84		37	15	21	1	90	109
  Ohio State	28	6	21	1	1	20	58	110		36	10	25	1	80	134
  Minnesota State	28	0	25	3	0	3	41	116		36	3	29	4	55	137
  Championship: Wisconsin † indicates conference regular season champion * indicates conference tournament champion Current rankings: USCHO.com Division I women's poll

• 2015–16 WHEA standings v t e
  	Conference								Overall
  	GP	W	L	T	PTS	GF	GA		GP	W	L	T	GF	GA
  #2 Boston College†*	24	24	0	0	48	127	27		41	40	1	0	213	51
  #6 Northeastern	24	20	4	0	40	110	45		38	28	9	1	163	94
  Boston University	24	17	5	2	36	96	70		39	23	14	2	140	119
  Connecticut	24	11	10	3	25	52	61		37	17	15	5	82	93
  New Hampshire	24	8	16	0	16	51	75		36	11	24	1	79	117
  Vermont	24	6	15	3	15	47	77		37	9	25	3	64	121
  Providence	24	6	16	2	14	44	88		36	10	24	2	72	136
  Maine	24	6	17	1	13	40	75		35	10	23	2	61	105
  Merrimack	24	3	18	3	9	33	82		34	5	26	3	57	124
  Championship: Boston College † indicates conference regular season champion * indicates conference tournament champion Current rankings: USCHO.com Division I women's poll

  *Rankings based on number of wins in the conference

Player stats

Scoring leaders

The following players lead the NCAA in points at the conclusion of games played on March 24, 2016.^{[4][5][6][7][8]}

Player	Class	Team	GP	G	A	Pts
Alex Carpenter	Senior	Boston College	41	43	45	88
Kendall Coyne	Senior	Northeastern	37	50	34	84
Haley Skarupa	Senior	Boston College	41	35	44	79
Dani Cameranesi	Junior	Minnesota	40	33	35	68
Hannah Brandt	Senior	Minnesota	38	25	39	64
Denisa Křížová	Sophomore	Northeastern	37	20	39	59
Annie Pankowski	Sophomore	Wisconsin	40	22	36	58
Sarah Potomak	Freshman	Minnesota	38	15	39	54
Taylar Cianfarano	Sophomore	Quinnipiac	37	28	24	52
Megan Keller	Sophomore	Boston College	41	12	40	52

Leading goaltenders

The following goaltenders lead the NCAA in goals against average at the conclusion of games played on March 24, 2016 while playing at least 33% of their team's total minutes.

Player	Class	Team	GP	Min	W	L	T	GA	SO	SV%	GAA
Ann-Renee Desbiens	Junior	Wisconsin	38	2279:18	33	4	1	29	21	.960	0.76
Sydney Rossman	Junior	Quinnipiac	38	2342:10	29	3	5	35	16	.949	0.90
Katie Burt	Sophomore	Boston College	36	2096:49	35	1	0	43	13	.943	1.23
Amanda Leveille	Senior	Minnesota	34	1957:32	29	4	1	42	10	.942	1.29
Shea Tiley	Sophomore	Clarkson	36	2090:50	27	4	5	46	12	.931	1.32

Awards

WCHA [9] Award Recipient Player of the Year Ann-Renee Desbiens, Wisconsin Outstanding Student-Athlete of the Year Shelby Amsley-Benzie, North Dakota Defensive Player of the Year Ivana Bilic, Bemidji State Rookie of the Year Sarah Potomak, Minnesota Scoring Champion Dani Cameranesi, Minnesota Goaltending Champion Ann-Renee Desbiens, Wisconsin Coach of the Year Mark Johnson, Wisconsin All-WCHA Teams First Team   Position   Second Team Ann-Renee Desbiens, Wisconsin G Brittni Mowat, Bemidji State Courtney Burke, Wisconsin D Milica McMillen, Minnesota Lee Stecklein, Minnesota D Jenny Ryan, Wisconsin Hannah Brandt, Minnesota F Emily Clark, Wisconsin Dani Cameranesi, Minnesota F Ashleigh Brykaliuk, Minnesota Duluth Annie Pankowski, Wisconsin F Amy Menke, North Dakota Third Team   Position   Rookie Team Shelby Amsley-Benzie, North Dakota G Maddy Rooney, Minnesota Duluth Ivana Bilic, Bemidji State D Anna Kilponen, North Dakota Halli Krzyzaniak, North Dakota D Melissa Hunt, Bemidji State Sarah Nurse, Wisconsin F Julia Tilke, St. Cloud State Sarah Potomak, Minnesota F Sarah Potomak, Minnesota Molly Illikainen, St. Cloud State F Sam Cogen, Wisconsin

CHA [10] Award Recipient Player of the Year Melissa Piacentini, F, Syracuse Rookie of the Year Rachael Smith, F, Mercyhurst Goaltender Trophy (Best GAA) Sarah McDonnell, Mercyhurst Defenseman of the Year Nicole Renault, Syracuse Defensive Forward of the Year (Tie) Jessica Sibley, Syracuse Defensive Forward of the Year (Tie) Micayla Catanzariti, Penn State Sportsmanship Award Jill Holdcroft, Penn State Coach of the Year Mike Sisti, Mercyhurst CHA All-Conference Teams First Team   Position   Second Team Nicole Hensley, Lindenwood G Celine Whitlinger, Penn State Mikaela Lowater, Robert Morris D Megan Quinn, Syracuse Nicole Renault, Syracuse D J'Nai Mahadeo, Mercyhurst Shara Jasper, Lindenwood F Melissa Piacentini, Syracuse Stephanie Grossi, Syracuse F Jessica Sibley, Syracuse Brittany Howard, Robert Morris F Amy Petersen, Penn State Rookie Team   Position   - Sarah McDonnell, Mercyhurst G Reagan Rust, RIT D Molly Blasen, Mercyhurst D Maggie LaGue, Robert Morris D Rachael Smith, Mercyhurst F Shannon Morris-Reade, Lindenwood F Sarah Quaranta, Robert Morris F

Women's Hockey East Association (WHEA) Award Recipient Cami Granato Award (Player of the Year) Kendall Coyne, Northeastern[11] Pro Ambitions Rookie of the Year Makenna Newkirk, Boston College Hockey East Coach of the Year Katie King-Crowley, Boston College Best Defensive Forward Leah Buress, Connecticut Best Defenseman Megan Keller, Boston College Goaltender of the Year Katie Burt, Boston College Sportmanship Award Sara Carlson, New Hampshire Army ROTC Three Stars Award Kendall Coyne, Northeastern Scoring Champion Kendall Coyne, Northeastern Hockey East All-Star Teams[12][13] First Team   Position   Second Team Elaine Chuli, Connecticut G Brittany Bugalski, Northeastern Lexi Bender, Boston College D Jordan Krause, Northeastern Megan Keller, Boston College D Taylor Willard, Vermont Alex Carpenter, Boston College F Victoria Bach, Boston University Kendall Coyne, Northeastern F Rebecca Leslie, Boston University Haley Skarupa, Boston College F Denisa Křížová, Northeastern Honorable Mention   Position   Rookie Team Katie Burt, Boston College G Brittany Bugalski, Northeastern G Samantha Ridgewell, Merrimack Heather Mottau, Northeastern D Maddie Hartman, Northeastern Alexis Crossley, Boston University D Alyson Matteau, Connecticut Dana Trivigno, Boston College F Sammy Davis, Boston University Jonna Curtis, New Hampshire F Makenna Newkirk, Boston College F Christina Putigna, Providence F Paige Voight, Merrimack

ECAC Award Recipient Player of the Year Taylar Cianfarano, Quinnipiac Best Forward Taylar Cianfarano, Quinnipiac Best Defenseman Kelsey Koelzer, Princeton Rookie of the Year Karlie Lund, Princeton Goaltender of the Year Sydney Rossman, Quinnipiac Sportmanship Award St. Lawrence Mandi Schwartz Student-Athlete of the Year Kristen Tamberg, Quinnipiac Coach of the Year Jeff Kampersal, Princeton All-ECAC Teams[14] First Team   Position   Second Team Sydney Rossman, Quinnipiac G Emerance Maschmeyer, Harvard Kelsey Koelzer, Princeton D Amanda Boulier, St. Lawrence Erin Ambrose, Clarkson D Kristen Tamberg, Quinnipiac Taylar Cianfarano, Quinnipiac F Sydney Daniels, Harvard Cayley Mercer, Clarkson F Miye D'Oench, Harvard Karlie Lund, Princeton F Olivia Howe, Clarkson Third Team   Position   Rookie Team Lovisa Selander, Rensselaer G Lovisa Selander, Rensselaer Renata Fast, Clarkson D Micah Hart, Cornell Michelle Picard, Harvard D Stephanie Sucharda, Clarkson Emma Woods, Quinnipiac F Loren Gabel, Clarkson Laura Stacey, Dartmouth F Karlie Lund, Princeton Nicole Kosta, Quinnipiac F Melissa Samoskevich, Quinnipiac

Patty Kazmaier Award Patty Kazmaier Award Finalists[15] Player Position School Kendall Coyne Forward Northeastern Alex Carpenter Forward Boston College Ann-Renee Desbiens Goaltender Wisconsin Shelby Amsley-Benzie Goaltender North Dakota Hannah Brandt Forward Minnesota Dani Cameranesi Forward Minnesota Megan Keller Defense Boston College Kelsey Koelzer Defense Princeton Annie Pankowski Forward Wisconsin Haley Skarupa Forward Boston College

AHCA Coach of the Year AHCA Coach of the Year Finalists[16] Coach School Katie King-Crowley[17] Boston College Matt Desrosiers Clarkson Michael Sisti Mercyhurst Brad Frost Minnesota Mark Johnson Wisconsin Jeff Kampersal Princeton