March 16, 2026

Preview: No. 6 Wolverines Set for ACHA National Tournament Pool Play in St. Louis

The Wolverines reached their third ACHA National Tournament in as many years.

DEARBORN, Mich. -- The No. 6-ranked University of Michigan–Dearborn Wolverines women's ice hockey team is set to begin its run at the ACHA Women's Division 1 National Championships this week at the Centene Community Ice Center in St. Louis, Mo., marking a historic postseason appearance following the most successful season in program history.

Michigan–Dearborn enters the tournament as the No. 6 overall seed with a 29–3 overall record and a 13–1 mark in conference play. The Wolverines captured both the Central Collegiate Women's Hockey Association regular season and tournament championships for the first time in program history and will compete in Pool C alongside No. 3 Minot State Beavers women's ice hockey and No. 10 Jamestown Jimmies women's ice hockey.

Pool play consists of three teams, with the pool winner advancing to the national semifinals.

Tournament Schedule

Game 1
Thursday, March 19 – 2:00 p.m.
Michigan–Dearborn vs. Minot State
Centene Community Ice Center

Game 2
Friday, March 20 – 2:00 p.m.
Michigan–Dearborn vs. Jamestown
Centene Community Ice Center

All games can be streamed live on FloHockey.

Wolverines Enter Nationals Red Hot

The Wolverines arrive in St. Louis playing their best hockey of the season. Michigan–Dearborn won 11 of its final 12 games during the second semester, with the lone setback coming against No. 7 Adrian College.

UM-Dearborn secured the conference tournament title with a 4–1 victory over Indiana Tech Warriors women's ice hockey, powered by a two-goal performance from freshman forward Grace Taylor.

Offensively, the Wolverines have been one of the most dangerous teams in the nation. Michigan–Dearborn averages 4.71 goals per game, the highest among the teams in Pool C, and ranks third nationally in both goals scored (151) and goals allowed (40), producing the third-best goal differential in the country.

Star Power for the Wolverines

Michigan–Dearborn is led by Player of the Year candidate, Cadence Pero. The senior forward leads the nation with 59 points (26 goals, 33 assists) in 32 games this season.

Between the pipes, the Wolverines rely on First Team All-Conference goaltender Kenna Borso, who has been dominant throughout the season. Borso leads the ACHA with 20 wins and 12 shutouts, anchoring one of the nation's stingiest defenses.

The Wolverines are guided by Carrie Sirola, who was named CCWHA Coach of the Year in her first full season behind the UM-Dearborn bench.

Pool C Breakdown

No. 3 Minot State

The Beavers enter nationals with an 18-6-1-7 record and are led offensively by Journey Miller, who tops the team with 17 goals and 25 points.

In goal, Jillian Ackerman has been a standout performer, posting 12 wins, a 1.55 goals-against average, and a .944 save percentage in 26 games. Minot State finished the year with a +45 goal differential, second among teams in Pool C.

No. 10 Jamestown

Despite a 9-18-1-1 record, Jamestown faced one of the toughest schedules in the country, competing in a conference that features five teams ranked inside the national top-10.

The Jimmies are led offensively by Emma Durand and Bethany Wielgosh, who each have 19 points this season. Durand leads the team with 10 goals, while Wielgosh paces the squad with 11 assists.