Hockey

Conference Play is Underway in the WCHA

The Western Collegiate Hockey Association kicked off its first full weekend of conference play last weekend as all eight teams were in action. The first weekend of league play saw No. 1 Wisconsin, No. 2 Ohio State, and No. 3 Minnesota each record series sweeps of their respective opponents while St. Thomas and Minnesota State each earned points in the standings after a series split. 

Through four weeks of the season, three teams remain undefeated in the league with No. 1 Wisconsin, No. 2 Ohio State, and No. 3 Minnesota holding unblemished records. In non-conference play, WCHA teams have combined for a 25-1-0 record. 
 

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  • The top-ranked Wisconsin Badgers remain undefeated on the season at 6-0-0 and improved to 4-0-0 in conference play after a top-5 series sweep of No. 4 Minnesota Duluth at home last weekend. The Badgers also earned a series sweep of Bemidji State on the road the last weekend in September.

  • In Columbus, No. 2 Ohio State opened its conference slate with a sweep of Bemidji State as the Beavers fell to 0-4-0 in league games. 

  • Third-ranked Minnesota recorded a series sweep of No. 10 St. Cloud State as the Gophers recorded a 4-1 win at home and a 5-3 victory on the road last weekend over the Huskies.

  • St. Thomas and Minnesota State, who are both receiving votes in the latest USCHO poll, split a series in Mankato as the Tommies won the opener 2-1 in overtime and the Mavericks took game two with a 3-0 shutout victory. 

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  • To date, WCHA teams have compiled a 25-1-0 record through non-conference action as Bemidji State, Minnesota, Minnesota Duluth, Minnesota State, Ohio State, St. Thomas, and Wisconsin all remain undefeated in non-conference play.
  • Over ranked opponents in non-conference play this season, WCHA teams are 5-1-0. Minnesota earned a road series sweep of then No. 13 Boston University while Ohio State swept then No. 7 Colgate, also on the road. St. Cloud State picked up a win over No. 12 UCONN in Connecticut.
  • WCHA teams have combined for a 10-0-0 record at home against non-conference teams and a 15-1-0 record when facing non-conference teams on the road. 
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  • For the first time this season, five  WCHA teams were ranked in the Top 10 of the USCHO.com poll on Oct. 13 with No. 1 Wisconsin, No. 2 Ohio State, No. 3 Minnesota, No. 4 Minnesota Duluth, and No. 10 St. Cloud State. Both Minnesota State and St. Thomas received votes in the poll.

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  • Minnesota forward Abbey Murphy currently leads the NCAA in points with 18 (12g, 6a)  through six games with the Gophers. Her 12 goals are also ranked first in the nation. 

  • Wisconsin’s Caroline Harvey is tied for first in the NCAA amongst defenders in points with nine (3g, 6a) in four games played for the Badgers

  • Minnesota’s Ava Lindsay leads all skaters in the NCAA with 12 assists, while Minnesota State’s Lauren Zawoyski and Wisconsin’s Kirsten Simms are both tied for third with seven assists. 

  • Rookie netminder, Layla Hemp, has a 1.88 goals against average to lead all freshman goaltenders in the NCAA. 

  • Two WCHA goaltenders lead the NCAA in shutouts as Minnesota State’s Hailey Hansen and Wisconsin’s Ava McNaughton have each earned three this season.


*Rankings based on USCHO Division I Women's Poll

For more information on the Western Collegiate Hockey Association, follow the league on X and Instagram @WCHA_WHockey, and online at wcha.com.

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