The first weekend of action in 2026 for the Western Collegiate Hockey Association features four squads competing in non-conference action to ring in the new year. A top-four tilt is on the slate as No. 2 Ohio State hosts No. 4 Penn State, while No. 5 Minnesota Duluth opens up the Friendship Series in Belfast, Northern Ireland, against Harvard. Also taking part in the action is No. 3 Minnesota, facing Sacred Heart on the road, and Bemidji State traveling to Massachusetts to face Merrimack.
The WCHA Weekly notes packet presented by OS Hockey will be updated every week (Open PDF files on the right)
GET YOUR TICKETS TODAY
Fans can purchase all-session tickets for the 2026 Kwik Trip WCHA Final Faceoff today at the link HERE. Annually featuring a collection of the nation's highest-ranked programs and best players, the WCHA's four remaining teams will compete for the league's playoff championship and an automatic berth in the 2026 NCAA tournament. The league's premier event begins on Thursday, March 5, with two semifinal matchups at 4 PM CT and 7:30 PM CT, with the championship final taking place on Saturday, March 7, at 2 PM CT.
UPCOMING SCHEDULE
Friday, Jan. 2
No. 5 Minnesota Duluth vs Harvard - 9 AM
No. 3 Minnesota at Sacred Heart - 4 PM
No. 4 Penn State vs No. 2 Ohio State - 5 PM
Saturday, Jan. 3
No. 5 Minnesota Duluth vs Boston University/No. 8 Quinnipiac
No. 3 Minnesota at Sacred Heart - 12 PM
St. Thomas at No. 13 St. Cloud State (EXHIB) - 2 PM
No. 4 Penn State vs No. 2 Ohio State - 2 PM
Bemidji State at Merrimack - 6 PM
Saturday, Jan. 4
Bemidji State at Merrimack - 6 PM
**All times in CT
Note - rankings based on USCHO Poll
WCHA NEWSLETTER
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SUPPORT THE WCHA
Support the WCHA: The league announced the launch of its Support the WCHA giving campaign. All funds raised during the course of the campaign will go towards building the league's marketing efforts for the conference and promotion of the upcoming 2026 Kwik Trip WCHA Final Faceoff. Fans can donate today by clicking the link HERE.
GET YOUR GEAR TODAY
WCHA Merch Alert: The WCHA and Game One teamed up to launch a brand-new online store, giving fans across the league access to a wide selection of official WCHA apparel. Get your gear today by visiting the Game One online store at the link HERE.
WHERE TO WATCH
Back on B1G+: Fans can stream all WCHA home games on B1G+. To subscribe, download the B1G+ app or visit bigtenplus.com. A B1G+ subscription, which provides access to WCHA hockey games and the entire library of events and programming on B1G+, is available in both annual ($89.99) and monthly ($12.99) options.
FOX9+: Fans can watch a top-four matchup live on FOX9+ this weekend as No. 2 Ohio State hosts No. 4 Penn State in Columbus at 2:30 PM CT this Saturday. Click HERE for the full FOX9+ broadcast schedule.
Big Ten Network Matchups: The Big Ten Network and the WCHA announced two conference matchups will air on the Big Ten Network this season, with Minnesota hosting Minnesota State on Jan. 10 at 7:30 PM CT and Wisconsin hosting Ohio State on Feb. 7 at 3 PM CT.
FACEOFF FACTS
WCHA ON TOP: For the seventh-straight week, six of the eight WCHA squads were ranked in the top-15 of the USCHO poll with No. 1 Wisconsin, No. 2 Ohio State, No. 3 Minnesota, No. 5 Minnesota Duluth, No. 12 Minnesota State, and No. 13 St. Cloud State. St. Thomas also recieved votes in the latest poll.
Against the Nation: Heading into 2026, WCHA teams have compiled a 35-4-1 record against non-conference teams in the first half of the season. Ohio State, Minnesota State, Wisconsin, Minnesota, and Minnesota Duluth remain undefeated in non-conference play.
Midseason Snapshot: Heading into the second half of the season, Wisconsin holds the top spot in the WCHA standings with 37 points, followed by Ohio State (32), Minnesota (30), Minnesota Duluth (24), Minnesota State (17), St. Cloud State (12), St. Thomas (10) and Bemidji State (6).
Bulldogs Abroad: The fifth-ranked Minnesota Duluth Bulldogs are heading to Belfast, Ireland, to compete in the Friendship Series this weekend. UMD is one of four teams in the event, along with Harvard, Boston University, and No. 8 Quinnipiac. The Bulldogs take on Harvard at 9 AM CT and will look to advance to the Championship game of the event on Saturday, Jan. 3.
Frozen Showdown: The second-ranked Ohio State Buckeyes will host No. 4 Penn State in Columbus this weekend for a top-four non-conference matchup. Ohio State comes into the matchup with a 15-3-0 record, while Penn State sits at 18-1-0 this season. The Buckeyes hold the all-time advantage over the Nittany Lions at 9-2-0.
Nationally Dominant: Wisconsin's Caroline Harvey leads the NCAA this season in points (41) and assists (30), while Ohio State's Hilda Svensson leads all rookies in the NCAA in points (33), goals (12), and assists (21). Minnesota's Abbey Murphy sits at first in goals per game with 1.11.
Minnesota Milestone: Minnesota's Murphy recorded the 25th game-winning goal of her career in the Gophers' 4-1 win over St. Thomas on Dec. 6, becoming the all-time program leader in game-winning goals.
Heating Up: Wisconsin's Harvey and Minnesota's Josefin Bouveng are currently tied for the longest point streak in the country at 17 games.
Big-time Bulldog: After posting her fourth shutout of the season to close out 2025 in Minnesota Duluth's 4-0 win against Bemidji State, Ève Gascon became just one of five goaltenders in program history to post 15 or more shutouts over the course of a career.
Locking It Down: Three WCHA netminders rank in the top-10 amongst all NCAA goaltenders this season in shutouts as Wisconsin's Ava McNaughton is tied for second with six, followed by UMD's Gascon tied for sixth with four and St. Cloud State's Emilia Kyrkkö tied for seventh with three.
For more information on the Western Collegiate Hockey Association, follow the league on X and Instagram @WCHA_WHockey, and online at wcha.com