The United Collegiate Hockey Conference announced its 2026-27 Women's Preseason Coaches' Poll on Thursday, October 22. The UCHC Preseason Poll is voted on by all eight league coaches with 2026 NCAA National Runner-up Nazareth University selected as the top team in the conference at the start of the upcoming season. 

Nazareth garnered seven of the eight first place votes and 49 total points. The Golden Flyers enjoyed a magical run to the NCAA Championship game, defeating Wilkes University in the NCAA Quarterfinal and Norwich University in the Semifinals, before running into NCAA Champion Wisconsin-River Falls in the title game. The Golden Flyers went 14-0-0 in UCHC play last season and finished 27-2-1 overall. Nazareth has played in the last six UCHC Championship games and is looking to win its fifth league title in the last six seasons. The Golden Flyers begin the season ranked No. 3 in the USCHO.com Division III Women’s Hockey national poll.
 
Defending UCHC Champion Elmira College earned one first place vote and 42 total points in the 2026-27 UCHC Preseason poll. The Soaring Eagles handed Nazareth its first loss of the season in the 2025-26 UCHC Championship game and advanced to the NCAA Quarterfinals. Elmira finished 20-6-2 last season and won its fifth UCHC Championship. Former Elmira captain and All-American Eliza Beaudin takes over as head coach of the Soaring Eagles this season.
 
Utica is picked to finish third in the 2026-27 UCHC Women’s Preseason poll, with 35 total points. The Pioneers advanced to the UCHC Semifinals in 2025-26 and were in the league championship game in three consecutive seasons from 2023-25. St. John Fisher University is right behind Utica in fourth with 31 points. The Cardinals enjoyed a successful first season at the Division III level in 2025-26, having won 12 games, while advancing to the first round of the league tournament. 
 
Albertus Magnus is picked to finish fifth in the 2026-27 UCHC Preseason poll with 27 points. The Falcons are in their fourth season as a Division III program and won 16 contests last season, while advancing to the UCHC Semifinals. Manhattanville College is picked to finish sixth in the 2026-27 UCHC Preseason poll with 20 points. The Valiants advanced to the opening round of the UCHC Tournament last season.
 
Chatham University, who has advanced to the UCHC Semifinals in three of the last five seasons, is seventh with 17 points, while fellow UCHC newcomer Hilbert College is picked to finish eighth.
 
Next week, the UCHC will unveil its 2026-27 Players to Watch. Exhibition action continues this weekend before the regular season kicks off on Friday, Oct. 30 and Saturday, Oct. 31. League play begins on Nov. 13-14.

2026-27 UCHC Women's Preseason Coaches’ Poll
1. Nazareth University – 49 Points (7 First Place Votes)
2. Elmira College – 42 Points (1 First Place Votes)
3. Utica University – 35 Points
4. St. John Fisher University – 31 Points
5. Albertus Magnus College – 27 Points
6. Manhattanville University – 20 Points
7. Chatham University – 13 Points
8. Hilbert College – 7 Points