The 2026 Western Collegiate Hockey Association First Round is set for this weekend, with all eight league squads competing for a spot in the WCHA Kwik Trip Final Faceoff.
GET YOUR TICKETS TODAY
Fans can purchase single-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.
The WCHA Weekly notes packet presented by OS Hockey will be updated every week (Open PDF files on the right)
2026 WCHA FIRST ROUND SCHEDULE
Friday, Feb. 27
#5 Minnesota State at #4 Minnesota Duluth - 2 PM
#7 St. Thomas at #2 Ohio State - 5 PM
#8 Bemidji State at #1 Wisconsin - 6 PM
#6 St. Cloud State at #3 Minnesota - 6 PM FOX9+
Saturday, Feb. 28
#5 Minnesota State at #4 Minnesota Duluth - 1 PM
#7 St. Thomas at #2 Ohio State - 2 PM
#6 St. Cloud State at #3 Minnesota - 2 PM FOX9+
?#8 Bemidji State at #1 Wisconsin - 3 PM
Sunday, March 1 (IF NECESSARY)
#5 Minnesota State at #4 Minnesota Duluth - 1 PM
#8 Bemidji State at #1 Wisconsin - 2 PM
#7 St. Thomas at #2 Ohio State - 2 PM
#6 St. Cloud State at #3 Minnesota - 3 PM FOX9+
**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 the entire WCHA First Round best-of-three series between Minnesota and St. Cloud State on FOX9+ this weekend. Click HERE for the full FOX9+ broadcast schedule.
FACEOFF FACTS
In the Polls: Six of the eight WCHA squads were recognized in the latest USCHO poll. Wisconsin took the top spot, followed by No. 2 Ohio State, No. 3 Minnesota, No. 9 Minnesota Duluth, and No. 14 Minnesota State.
BADGERS ON TOP: After recording a series sweep against St. Cloud State last weekend, Wisconsin claimed its second-consecutive and 11th WCHA Regular Season title in program history. The Badgers are now tied with Minnesota for the most regular-season titles.
Beavers at Baders: After claiming the regular season title, Wisconsin earned the top seed in the postseason and will host Bemidji State in the WCHA First Round. This marks the second consecutive season the two teams will meet in the WCHA First Round, as the Badgers defeated the Beavers in two games last season to advance to the Final Faceoff.
Buckeyes & Tommies Clash: Ohio State earned the two seed for the WCHA postseason and will welcome seven-seeded St. Thomas to Columbus for the WCHA First Round best-of-three series. The Buckeyes went undefeated against the Tommies during the regular season.
Gophers vs Huskies: Second-seeded Minnesota will host sixth-seeded St. Cloud State in the WCHA First Round best-of-three series. This is the first time the two squads have met in the WCHA First Round since the 2019-20 season, when Minnesota won in two games. This season, the Gophers took all four games from the Huskies in regulation.
Mavericks Meet Bulldogs: The fourth-seeded Minnesota Duluth Bulldogs welcome fifth-seeded Minnesota State to Duluth in the WCHA First Round. This marks the first time since the 2021-22 season that two teams have met in the postseason. The Bulldogs won three of the four games this season against the Mavericks, while the two teams ended in a 0-0 draw on Jan. 23rd, where UMD won the shootout.
Record-Setting Maverick: Mercury Bischoff recorded her 19th goal of the season in last Saturday's 4-3 overtime win against St. Thomas and set the Minnesota State program record for most goals in a season by a rookie.
One Hundred Strong: Lacey Eden became the fourth Badger in program history to record 100+ goals in Wisconsin's 9-2 win against St. Cloud State last Saturday. Eden now has 68 points on the season, which is the most of any skater in the NCAA.
All the Medals: A total of 37 athletes with WCHA ties earned medals at the 2026 Winter Olympics, including 20 athletes and coaches who brought home the gold with Team USA. Seven current WCHA athletes earned medals with Minnesota's Abbey Murphy, Ohio State's Joy Dunne, and Wisconsin's Caroline Harvey, Laila Edwards, Kirsten Simms, and Ava McNaughton earned gold with Team USA, while St. Cloud State's Laura Zimmerman earned bronze with Team Switzerland.
For more information on the Western Collegiate Hockey Association, follow the league on X and Instagram @WCHA_WHockey, and online at wcha.com