Junior forward Ashleigh Brykaliuk has been promoted as the University of Minnesota Duluth women's hockey team captain for the 2015-16 season, while fellow junior defenseman Sidney Morin will serve as the assistant captain for the Bulldogs.

Bryakliuk, a native of Brandon, Manitoba, ranked second for UMD in scoring last season, posting 30 points in 36 games on 16 goals and 14 assists.  Four of Brykaliuk's scores were game-winning tallies, and her five-power play goals led the Bulldogs last season. Brykaliuk also posted a plus/minus rating of +15, topped only by Morin.  Overall, in just two years, Brykaliuk has compiled 53 points, including 27 goals and 26 assists.

Morin, a product of Minnetonka, Minn., played in all 73 of UMD's games over the past two seasons, registering 30 points on seven goals and 23 assists.  As the second highest scoring blueliner a year ago, Morin netted two goals with her 13 assists for 15 points, and recorded a team-best +16 plus/minus rating.  

Brykaliuk and Morin will be two of the 22 UMD players who will hit the ice officially for the 2015-16 season-opening practice at AMSOIL Arena this Saturday.