The Wilkes women’s hockey has been having a red-hot season with 13 straight wins in conference play as they look to repeat as Middle Atlantic Conference (MAC) champions. They’ve already clinched a postseason berth, the first team in the conference to do so. 

The numbers tell part of the story, with a record of 17-1-1 in their 19  games played this season. Wilkes has been firing on all cylinders, and it is their best season in program history after 19 games played.  

The Colonels’ success has been driven by their elite offense led by Haylee Bouchard and Nina Hudakova, and with the back-end production they are getting out of their netminder, Audrey Milne. Also, whether it is through how deep the Colonels’ lineup is, their outstanding power play, or their victories at the faceoff dot, they continue to show why they are the team to beat in the MAC. 

The Colonels have had games with eight goals scored by their offense, featuring wins over Hood on Nov. 22, Stevenson on Dec. 6 and Alvernia on Jan. 24

Wilkes has shown the ability to get off to hot starts quickly and dictate play in the game.  There is never a time that Wilkes lets off the gas pedal, even if their opponent strikes first.  Wilkes is strong on the boards and does not allow grade-a chances, which is a great example of why they are allowing less than one goal per game (0.83).

Defensively, the Colonels use their stickwork and body to their advantage, and their defensemen always allow themselves to create offense while pushing the puck up ice in their breakout.

Goaltending has provided the Navy and Gold a chance to win on any given night.  Milne has been excellent when called upon to stop shots for Wilkes. A season high of 40 saves vs Cortland was her biggest test on Jan. 4, but she has been a brick wall in goal and has given her team stability.

The Colonels are the only team in their conference that has yet to lose in regulation thus far. Their lone loss this season came in in the MAC, in overtime against Lebanon Valley early in the campaign. 

With the regular season nearing its final stretch, Wilkes sits in a strong position both in the standings and in terms of momentum. The Colonels have established an identity rooted in consistency, depth, and discipline — traits that tend to translate well when margins grow thinner, and games become more physical. 

If Wilkes can maintain its level of play and continue to build on its strengths, the team appears well-positioned to make a deep push as the season moves toward playoff time. Currently ranked 14th in the nation, the Colonels aim to take the momentum into their final games, and for them, a hope to go deep into the playoffs. 

Conference games are what is on the Colonels’ biggest radar right now for the rest of their regular season, but every game is a test for them, including a battle against #15 Elmira College.

The Colonels return to the ice this Friday for a matinee matchup against Neumann University at 2 p.m. from the Toyota Sportsplex. Puck drop is set for 2 p.m.