Conference play returns this upcoming weekend in the Western Collegiate Hockey Association with three top-15 matchups on the slate.
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. 9
No. 1 Wisconsin at No. 8 Minnesota Duluth - 3 PM
Bemidji State at St. Thomas - 5 PM
No. 2 Ohio State at No. 15 St. Cloud State - 6 PM
No. 3 Minnesota at No. 12 Minnesota State - 6 PM - FOX9+
Saturday, Jan. 10
No. 2 Ohio State at No. 15 St. Cloud State - 2 PM
No. 1 Wisconsin at No. 8 Minnesota Duluth - 2 PM - FOX9+
Bemidji State at St. Thomas - 2 PM
No. 12 Minnesota State at No. 3 Minnesota - 7:30 PM - Big Ten Network
**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 two top-15 WCHA matchups live on FOX9+ this weekend as No. 12 Minnesota State hosts No. 3 Minnesota on Friday at 6 PM and No. 8 Minnesota Duluth hosts No. 1 Wisconsin on Saturday at 2 PM. 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
EIGHT STRAIGHT WEEKS: For the eighth-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. 8 Minnesota Duluth, No. 12 Minnesota State, and No. 15 St. Cloud State.
Marquee Matchups: This upcoming weekend of action in the WCHA will feature three top-15 matchups as No. 8 Minnesota Duluth will host No. 1 Wisconsin, No. 2 Ohio State faces No. 15 St. Cloud State on the road, and No. 3 Minnesota will have a home-and-home series with No. 12 Minnesota State.
WCHA Over Everyone: WCHA teams officially wrapped up their regular-season non-conference games this past weekend, while all eight teams combined for an overall record of 40-6-2 in non-conference games this season. Wisconsin, Ohio State, Minnesota, and Minnesota State completed their non-conference slates with perfect records.
Jumping For JOY: Ohio State's Joy Dunne recorded the 18th game-winning goal of her career in the Buckeyes 5-1 win against Penn State in the series opener as she set a new program record.
Milano Cortina Bound: As the United States, Finland, and Czechia have announced their rosters for the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milano Cortina, the WCHA has 12 current players set to represent their respective countries. Wisconsin's Laila Edwards (USA), Caroline Harvey (USA), Ava McNaughton (USA), Kirsten Simms (USA), and Adéla Šapovalivová (Czechia) will represent the Badgers, while Abbey Murphy (USA), Nelli Laitinen (Finland), and Tereza Plosová (Czechia) are going for Minnesota. Also making an appearance on the Olympic stage are Ohio State's Joy Dunne (USA) and Sanni Vanhanen (Finland), along with St. Cloud State's Siiri Yrjölä and Emilia Kyrkkö, who will both play for Finland.
More Murphy Magic: Minnesota's Abbey Murphy recorded seven points in the Gophers' 14-2 win against non-conference foe Sacred Heart last weekend to tie the Minnesota program record for most points in a single-game. The seven points were also the most by a WCHA skater this season.
Point-Proven: The WCHA is currently home to seven of the top-10 point scorers in the NCAA this season with Murphy leading the way at 43 points followed by Wisconsin's Harvey (41), Ohio State's Hilda Svensson (36), Wisconsin's Lacey Eden (34), and Kirsten Simms (34), Ohio State's Joy Dunne (33) and Minnesota's Josefin Bouveng in eighth with 29 points.
Beaver Bites: Morgan Smith recorded two goals in Bemidji State's non-conference series with Merrimack last weekend as she now has a team-best 15 points on the season, off eight goals and seven assists.
Badger Brickwall: Wisconsin's McNaughton currently leads all goaltenders in the NCAA this season with her 1.27 goals against average and is tied for second in the NCAA with six shutouts.
For more information on the Western Collegiate Hockey Association, follow the league on X and Instagram @WCHA_WHockey, and online at wcha.com