This winter will mark the 25th season of women's hockey competiton in the always rugged Western Collegiate Hockey Association.  As a part of this celebration, Bill Brophy is writing a series of stories outlining the history and impact of the WCHA.  He has also compiled the following list of yearly accomplishments and notes for the WCHA.

Brophy is the former sports editor of the Wisconsin State journal who has covered the men’s and women’s WCHA since 1975. He has done radio and television for Wisconsin’s men’s hockey since 1990 through last season and has worked for the women’s WCHA as a public relations consultant since 2006.

Here is a look at a recap of the WCHA’s second five seasons (2004 to 2009).
 

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2004-05
NCAA champion – Minnesota, coached by Laura Halldorson, beat  Harvard 4-3

WCHA regular season champion -- Minnesota
National Tournament Qualifiers: Minnesota Duluth, Minnesota, Wisconsin.
WCHA Player of the Year: Krissy Wendell, F, UM.
WCHA Student-Athlete of the Year: Caroline Ouellette, F, UMD.
WCHA Defensive Player of the Year: Molly Engstrom, D, UW.
WCHA Rookie of the Year: Bobbi Ross, F, UM.
WCHA Coach of the Year: Laura Halldorson, UM.
WCHA Scoring Champion: Natalie Darwitz, F, UM (28gp, 27-45=72). WCHA Goaltending Champion: Jody Horak, UM (16-1-2, 0.89, .952).
All-WCHA First Team: F - Krissy Wendell, UM; F - Caroline Ouellette, UMD; F - Natalie Darwitz, UM; D - Molly Engstrom, UW; D - Lyndsey Wall, UM; G - Ritta Schaublin, UMD.
All-WCHA Second Team: F - Kelly Stephens, UM; F - Sara Bauer, UW; F - Noemie Marin, UMD; D - Carla MacLeod, UW; D - Julianne Vashichek; G - Jody Horak, UM.
All-WCHA Rookie Team: F - Bobbi Ross, UM; F - Jinelle Zaugg, UW; F - Cami Wooster, F, UND; D - Rachael Drazan, UMD; D - Kerri Wallace, MSU; G - Emily Brookshaw, G, BSU.
All-American First Team: F - Krissy Wendell, UM; F - Natalie Darwitz, UM; F - Caroline Ouellette, UMD; D - Molly Engstrom, UW; D - Lyndsay Wall, UM.
All-American Second Team: D - Carla MacLeod, UW; Julianne Vashichek, UMD; G - Jody Horak, UM.
Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award Winner: Krissy Wendell, F, UM.
Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award Top-3 Finalists: Natalie Darwitz, F, UM; Caroline Ouellete, F, UMD; Krissy Wendell, F, UM.
Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award Top-10 Finalists: Natalie Darwitz, F, UM; Molly Engstrom, D, UW; Carla MacLeod, D, UW; Caroline Ouellete, F, UMD; Krissy Wendell, F, UM
                                WCHA Playoff Championship Ridder Arena • Minneapolis, Minn.
 March 3 No. 7 North Dakota 2, No. 2 Minnesota Duluth 3 No. 8 Bemidji State 3, No. 1 Minnesota 6 (1,011)
 March 4 No. 6 St. Cloud State 1, No. 3 Wisconsin 3 No. 5 Minnesota State 1, No. 4 Ohio State 4 (884)
 March 5 Wisconsin 3, Minnesota Duluth 2 Ohio State 1, Minnesota 7 (1,308)
 March 6 Third Place – Ohio State 0, Minnesota Duluth 5 Championship – Wisconsin 2, Minnesota 3 (OT) (1,513)
Attendance: 4,716 (4 sessions).
Playoff Champion: Minnesota
All-tourney team: - Natalie Darwitz, Minnesota F - Krissy Wendell, Minnesota F - Sharon Cole, Wisconsin D - Lyndsay Wall, Minnesota D - Carla MacLeod, Wisconsin G - Jody Horak, Minnesota MOP: Natalie Darwitz, F, Minnesota
 

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2005-06
NCAA champion – Wisconsin, coached by Mark Johnson, beat Minnesota 3-0
Regular season champion – Wisconsin
National Tournament Qualifier:  WCHA Playoff Champion: Wisconsin.
National Tournament Qualifiers: Minnesota, Wisconsin, Minnesota Duluth.
WCHA Player of the Year: Sara Bauer, F, UW.
WCHA Student-Athlete of the Year: Riitta Schaublin, G, UMD.
WCHA Defensive Player of the Year: Bobbi-Jo Slusar, D, UW.

WCHA Rookie of the Year: Gigi Marvin, F, UM.
WCHA Coach of the Year: Mark Johnson, UW.
WCHA Scoring Champion: Erica McKenzie, F, UM (28gp, 18-22=40).
WCHA Goaltending Champion: Kim Hanlon, UM (10-2-0, 1.19, .940).
All-WCHA First Team: F - Sara Bauer, UW; F - Erica McKenzie, UM; F - Jana Harrigan, OSU; D - Bobbi-Jo Slusar, UW; D - Amber Bowman, OSU; G - Riitta Schaublin, UMD.
All-WCHA Second Team: F - Noemie Marin, UMD; F - Kristy Oonincx, SCSU; F - Sharon Cole, UW; D - Rachael Drazan, UMD; D - Meaghan Mikkelson, UW; G - Meghan Horras, UW.
All-WCHA Third Team: F - Gigi Marvin, UM; F - Hailey Clarkson, SCSU; F - Michaela Lanzl, UMD; D - Lisa Chesson, OSU; D - Krista McArthur, UMD; G - Lauri St. Jacques, SCSU. All-WCHA Rookie Team: F - Gigi Marvin, UM; F - Maggie Fisher, MSU; F - Michaela Lanzl, UMD; D - Brooke Collins, BSU; D - Melanie Gagnon, UM; G - Kim Hanlon, UM.
All-American First Team: F - Sara Bauer, UW; D - Bobbi-Jo Slusar, UW; G - Riitta Schaublin, UMD. All-American Second Team: F - Jana Harrigan, OSU.
Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award Winner: Sara Bauer, F, UW.
Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award Top-3 Finalists: Sara Bauer, F, UW; Riitta Schaublin, G, UMD.
Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award Top-10 Finalists: Sara Bauer, F, UW; Jana Harrigan, F, OSU; Noemie Marin, F, UMD; Riitta Schaublin, G, UMD.
 AHCA Women’s Division I Coach of the Year: Mark Johnson, UW
                                      WCHA Playoff Semifinals/Final Ridder Arena • Minneapolis, Minn.   
 March 11 No. 4 St. Cloud State 0, No. 1 Wisconsin 9 No. 3 Minnesota Duluth 1, No. 2 Minnesota 2 (1,780)
 March 12 Championship – Minnesota 1, Wisconsin 4 (1,012)
 Attendance: 2,792 (2 sessions).
Playoff Champion: Wisconsin
All-tourney team: - F - Cyndy Kenyon, Minnesota F - Gigi Marvin, Minnesota D - Bobbi-Jo Slusar, Wisconsin D - Allie Sanchez, Minnesota D - Emily Morris, Wisconsin G - Meghan Horras, Wisconsin MOP: Sara Bauer, F, Wisconsin
 

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2006-07
NCAA champion – Wisconsin, coached by Mark Johnson, beat Minnesota Duluth 4-1
Regular season champion -- Wisconsin.
National Tournament Qualifiers: Minnesota Duluth, Wisconsin.
WCHA Player of the Year: Sara Bauer, F, UW.
WCHA Outstanding Student-Athlete of the Year: Riitta Schaublin, G, UMD
WCHA Defensive Player of the Year: Meaghan Mikkelson, D, UW.
WCHA Rookie of the Year: Meghan Duggan, F, UW.
WCHA Coach of the Year: Mark Johnson, UW.
WCHA Scoring Champion: Sara Bauer, F, UW (28gp, 16-35=51).
WCHA Goaltending Champion: Christine Dufour, UW (11-0-1, 1.07, .949).

All-WCHA First Team: F - Sara Bauer, UW; F - Noemie Marin, UMD; F - Gigi Marvin, UM; D - Meaghan Mikkelson, UW; D - Tessa Bonhomme, OSU; G - Jessie Vetter, UW.
All-WCHA Second Team: F - Meghan Duggan, UW; F - Erin Keys, OSU; F - Jinelle Zaugg, UW; D - Amber Bowman, OSU; D - Bobbi-Jo Slusar, UW; G - Kim Martin, UMD.
All-WCHA Third Team: F - Jessica Koizumi, UMD; F - Erika Lawler, UW; F - Bobbi Ross, UM; D - Melangie Gagnon, UM; D - Lisa Chesson, OSU; G - Christine Dufour, UW.
All-WCHA Rookie Team: F - Meghan Duggan, UW; F - Holly Roberts, SCSU; F - Saara Tuominen, UMD; D - Holly Snyder, MSU; D - Michelle Maunu, UM (tie); D - Ashley Lynch, UND (tie); G - Kim Martin, UMD.
All-American First Team: F - Sara Bauer, UW; D - Meaghan Mikkelson, UW; G - Jessie Vetter, UW.
All-American Second Team: D - Tessa Bonhomme, OSU; D - Bobbi-Jo Slusar, UW.
Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award Top-3 Finalist: Sara Bauer, F, UW.
Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award Top-10 Finalists: Sara Bauer, F, UW; Tessa Bonhomme, D, OSU; Noemie Marin, F, UMD; Meaghan Mikkelson, D, UW.
 AHCA Women’s Division I Coach of the Year: Mark Johnson, UW
                                      WCHA Playoff Semifinals/Final Ridder Arena • Minneapolis, Minn.   
 March 3 No. 4 Ohio State 0, No. 1 Wisconsin 4 No. 3 Minnesota 3, No. 2 Minnesota Duluth 2 (OT) (1,343)
 March 4 Championship – Minnesota 1, Wisconsin 3 (1,157) Attendance: 2,500 (2 sessions).
Playoff champion – Wisconsin
All-tournament team – F - Bobbi Ross, Minnesota F - Gigi Marvin, Minnesota F - Jinelle Zaugg, Wisconsin D - Tessa Bonhomme, Ohio State D - Meaghan Mikkelson, Wisconsin G - Jessie Vetter, Wisconsin MOP: Sara Bauer, F, Wisconsin
 
                                             
2007-08
NCAA champion – Minnesota Duluth coached by Shannon Miller, beat Wisconsin 4-0
Regular season champion— Minnesota Duluth (*26 games and WCHA regular season title later vacated due to ineligible player)
WCHA Final Faceoff Playoff Champion: Minnesota Duluth.
National Tournament Qualifiers: Minnesota Duluth, Minnesota, Wisconsin.
WCHA Player of the Year: Tessa Bonhomme, D, OSU.

WCHA Outstanding Student-Athlete of the Year: Casie Hanson, F, UND.
WCHA Defensive Player of the Year: Tessa Bonhomme, D, OSU.
WCHA Rookie of the Year: Haley Irwin, F, UMD.
WCHA Coach of the Year: Brad Frost, UM.
WCHA Scoring Champion: Haley Irwin, F, UMD (26gp, 18-25=43
WCHA Goaltending Champion: Jessie Vetter, G, UW (19-5-2, 1.38, .928).
All-WCHA First Team: F - Gigi Marvin, UM; F - Haley Irwin, UMD; F - Erin Keys, OSU (tie) & Meghan Duggan, UW (tie); D - Tessa Bonhomme, OSU; D - Rachael Drazan, UM; G - Kim Martin, UMD (tie) & Jessie Vetter, UW (tie).
All-WCHA Second Team: F - Erica McKenzie, UM; F - Erika Lawler, UW; D - Lisa Chesson, OSU; D - Anya Miller, UM; G - (none due to two-way tie for first team).
All-WCHA Third Team: F - Bobbi Ross, UM; Jinelle Zaugg, UW; Saara Tuominen, UMD; D - Jocelyne Larocque, UMD; D - Melanie Gagnon, UM; G - Emily Brookshaw, BSU.
All-WCHA Rookie Team: F - Hilary Knight, UW; F - Haley Irwin, UMD; F - Mallory Deluce, UW; D - Jocelyne Larocque, UMD; D - Shannon Reilly, OSU; G - Jenny Lura, UM
All-American First Team: D - Tessa Bonhomme, OSU; G - Kim Martin, UMD. All-American Second Team: F - Gigi Marvin, UM.
Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award Top-3 Finalist: Kim Martin, G, UMD.
Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award Top-10 Finalists: Tessa Bonhomme, D, OSU; Kim Martin, G, UMD; Gigi Marvin, F, UM March 8 No. 4 St. Cloud State 0, No. 1 Minnesota Duluth 9 (1688) No. 3 Wisconsin 4, No. 2 Minnesota 3 (1,688)
March 9 Championship – Wisconsin 4, Minnesota Duluth 5 (OT) (1,274) Attendance: 4,650.
Playoff Champion:  Minnesota Duluth.
All tournament team:  F- Gigi Marvin, Minnesota F - Jinelle Zaugg, Wisconsin F - Haley Irwin, Minnesota Duluth D - Jocelyne Larocque, Minnesota Duluth D - Myriam Trepanier, Minnesota Duluth G - Kim Martin, Minnesota Duluth MOP: Elin Holmlov, F, Minnesota Duluth
 

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 2008-09
NCAA champion – Wisconsin, coached by Mark Johnson, beat Mercyhurst 5-0
Regular season champion –  Minnesota
National Tournament Qualifiers: Minnesota, Minnesota Duluth, Wisconsin.
WCHA Player of the Year: Hilary Knight, F, UW.
WCHA Outstanding Student-Athlete of the Year: Gigi Marvin, F, UM.
WCHA Defensive Player of the Year: Melanie Gagnon, D, UM.
WCHA Rookie of the Year: Monique Lamoureux, F, UM.

WCHA co-Coaches of the Year: Brad Frost, UM; Mark Johnson, UW.
WCHA Scoring Champion: Monique Lamoureux, F, UM (28gp, 30-31=61).
WCHA Goaltending Champion: Alyssa Grogran, G, UM (11-1-2, 1.37, .934).
All-WCHA First Team: F - Hilary Knight, UW; F - Monique Lamoureux, UM; F - Jocelyne Lamoureux, UM; D - Melanie Gagnon, UM; D - Jocelyne Larocque, UMD; G - Jessie Vetter, UW.
All-WCHA Second Team: F - Gigi Marvin, UM; F - Erika Lawler, UW; F - Elin Holmlov, UMD; D - Rachael Drazan, UM; D - Anne Schleper, UM; G - Zuzana Tomcikova, BSU.
All-WCHA Third Team: F - Meghan Duggan, UW; F - Haley Irwin, UMD; F - Brooke Ammerman, UW; D - Alycia Matthews, UW; D - Jaime Rasmussen, UMD; G - Kim Martin, UMD.
All-WCHA Rookie Team: F - Monique Lamoureux, UM; F - Jocelyne Lamoureux, UM; F - Brooke Ammerman, UW; D - Anne Schleper, UM; D - Brittany Haverstock, UW; G - Zuzana Tomcikova, BSU.
All-American First Team: F - Hilary Knight, UW; D - Jocelyne Larocque, UMD; G - Jessie Vetter, UW.
All-American Second Team: F - Monique Lamoureux, UM; D - Melanie Gagnon, UM.
Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award Winner: Jessie Vetter, G, UW.
Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award Top-3 Finalist: Jessie Vetter, G, UW.
Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award Top-10 Finalists: Hilary Knight, F, UW; Monique Lamoureux, F, UM; Gigi Marvin, F, UM: Jessie Vetter, G, UW.
AHCA Women’s Division 1 Coach of the Year: Mark Johnson, UW. March 7 No. 4 Minnesota State 2, No. 1 Minnesota 7 No. 3 Minnesota Duluth 1, No. 2 Wisconsin 3 (1,823)
March 8 Championship – Wisconsin 5, Minnesota 3 (1,730) Attendance: 3,553 (2 sessions).
Champion: Wisconsin
All tournament team: F - Hilary Knight, Wisconsin F - Jasmine Giles, Wisconsin F - Monique Lamoureux, Minnesota D - Alycia Matthews, Wisconsin D - Melanie Gagnon, Minnesota G - Jessie Vetter, G, Wisconsin MOP: Jessie Vetter, G, Wisconsin