About The WCHA
WCHA Directory | Commissioner | Conference Office Staff | Conference Members
This is the Western Collegiate Hockey Association (WCHA)
With a noteworthy past that spans six decades and marks its 56th season overall in 2007-08, three characteristics that continue to define the Western Collegiate Hockey Association are history, tradition and success.
From the founding days as the Midwest Collegiate Hockey League (MCHL) from 1951-53, to the Western Intercollegiate Hockey League (WIHL) from 1953-58, and ultimately on to the Western Collegiate Hockey Association in 1959, this prestigious athletic conference has developed and maintained a tradition of excellence that truly is second to none.
In fact, no collegiate conference - in any sport - can top the impressive list of national scale accomplishments of the WCHA and its member teams. Since 1951, teams representing the men's WCHA have earned a record 36 NCAA (national) championships, finished as the national runner-up another 27 times, and qualified for a berth in collegiate hockey's national championship round - the NCAA Men's Frozen Four - in 52 of 55 seasons overall. And since it's founding in 1999-2000, teams representing the women's WCHA have now captured eight consecutive national championships in 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006 and 2007!
In addition to its successes in national championship tournament play over the years, the Western Collegiate Hockey Association owns an enviable reputation for producing outstanding coaches and student-athletes, with hundreds upon hundreds of its alumni moving on to successful professional and Olympic playing careers. On top of the more than 200 men's and women's league alumni who have Olympic experience playing for the likes of the U.S., Canada, Italy, Norway, Austria, Germany, Sweden, Finland, and France, conference-member teams and players have also received additional international exposure on a regular basis since 1951. The WCHA has hosted touring teams from the USSR, Canada, Sweden, Czechoslovakia, Latvia, Germany, Italy, Finland, Norway, Switzerland, England and France. The league has also sent men's WCHA All-Star Teams to Europe in both 1998 (Switzerland) and 2000 (Norway) and hopes to make another overseas trip in the future, while the women's WCHA has also regularly put together all-star teams, with the 2005-06 season bringing WCHA All-Star Team games against the U.S. National Team at both Xcel Energy Center and the Duluth Entertainment & Convention Center. In 2006-07, the women's WCHA had nine current and seven former players compete at the 2007 IIHF Women's World Championship in Manitoba, with the likes of former and current WCHA stars Carla MacLeod, Caroline Ouellette, and Tessa Bonhomme winning Gold as members of Team Canada.
Just a few of the more than 350 past and present National Hockey Leaguer's who have roots in the WCHA include the likes of legendary goaltenders Tony Esposito, Eddio Mio and Glenn 'Chico' Resch, defensemen Keith Magnuson, Lou Nanne and Curt Giles, and forwards Lou Angotti, Bill Masterton, Bill 'Red' Hay, Red Berenson, Glenn Anderson and Mark Johnson. The current crop of WCHA stars playing in the NHL include the likes of Chris Chelios, Brett Hull, Dany Heatley, Mark Parrish, Jordan Leopold, Curtis Joseph, Greg Johnson, Sean Hill, Antti Laaksonen, Jason Blake, Tyler Arnason, Andy Sutton, Bret Hedican and Matt Carle.
WCHA home attendance for men's games reached another new milestone in 2006-07, this time surpassing the 1.6 million mark for the first time time with a record total of 1,606,686 and a per game average attendance of 7,370. The WCHA has now surpassed the one million mark in home attendance 14 straight seasons and 1.5 million for five straight seasons.
The WCHA also led the way again in women's national attendance in 2006-07. Wisconsin ranked first in average home attendance with at 1,362 for 20 homes dates. They also led the nation with a total home attendance figure of 28,607. Minnesota and Minnesota Duluth ranked second and third, respectfully, in both categories. WCHA home arenas were also the site of two of the top single-game attendance highs. Leading the way was the NCAA regional game at UW's Kohl Center against Harvard with 5,125 on March 10. Also ranked was a January sellout at Ridder Arena when Minnesota drew 3,251 for a game against Wisconsin. The Border Battle attracted 5,524 for the two-game series.
Over the last decade, the WCHA has been able to showcase it's exciting brand of hockey to an ever-increasing number of fans, thanks in part to such impressive new facilities as Ralph Engelstad Arena in Grand Forks, Colorado Springs World Arena, the Kohl Center in Madison, Magness Arena in Denver, Mariucci Arena and Ridder Arena in Minneapolis, the National Hockey Center in St. Cloud, and Alltel Center in Mankato.
The conference's two annual playoff championships, known as the Red Baron WCHA Final Five (men's) and the WCHA Championship (women's), continue to be among the most successful collegiate tournaments of their kind. Held at Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul, the WCHA Final Five has drawn in excess of 1,100,000 fans since it's inception in 1987 - including a record 88,900 in 2007. The women's 2008 WCHA Championship, set for next March 8-9 at the Duluth Entertainment & Convention Center, also continues to grow both in exposure and attendance.
Also in 2007-08, WCHA member arenas will be showcased throughout the hockey world as they will host several national events. On the final weekend of March, the Colorado Springs World Arena, home of the CC Tigers, will host the NCAA Men's West Regional while the Kohl Center, home of the UW Badgers, will host the NCAA Men's Midwest Regional. And the University of Denver will serve as the host institution for the 2008 NCAA Men's Frozen Four, to be held April 10-12 at Pepsi Center in the Mile High City. On the women's side, the Duluth Entertainment & Convention, home of the UMD Bulldogs, will host both the WCHA Championship on March 8-9 and the 2008 NCAA Women's Frozen Four from March 20-22.
Under the leadership and guidance of Commissioner Bruce M. McLeod and Associate Commissioner Sara R. Martin, the Western Collegiate Hockey Association proudly celebrates it's 56th season of men's competition and ninth in women's competition in 2007-08 with prospects for another tremendously competitive campaign being extremely bright.
2008 Red Baron WCHA Final Five Information (men's championship tournament): The men's 2008 Red Baron WCHA Final Five will be held March 20-22 at Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul, Minn. The schedule is as follows: Thursday, March 20 - Sudden-Death Semi-Final, 7:07 pm CT; Friday, March 21 - Semi-Finals, 2:07 pm CT and 7:07 pm CT; and Saturday, March 17 - Third Place Game, 2:07 pm CT; Broadmoor Trophy Championship, 7:07 pm CT. For ticket information, phone Tickeaster at 651 989- 5151, or visit www.tickeaster.com or wcha.cstv.com.
2008 WCHA Women's Championship Information (women's championship tournament): Tickets for the 2008 WCHA Championship go on sale Nov. 5, 2007 at 10:00 am CT at the University of Minnesota Duluth Ticket Office. Three-game season tickets for the women's championship will be available in three prices: $20 for a reserved seat, $18 for general admission, and $15 for seniors and youth (age 18 and under). Beginning Nov. 5, tickets may be purchased by calling the UMD Athletic Ticket Office at 218 726-8595.
Single session tickets, priced at $15, $12 and $8, will be available on the days of the semifinals and championship game. The two semifinal games will be played on Saturday, March 8 at 1:00 pm CT and 4:00 pm CT. The WCHA Championship game is Sunday, March 9 at 1:00 pm CT.
2006-07 WCHA Men's Highlights
Although the Western Collegiate Hockey Association's run of five consecutive men's national championships won came to an end, the 2006-07 hockey season will still be remembered among the best ever for the now 56-year-old league. Home to a record 36 NCAA championship teams since it's founding in 1951, the WCHA on-ice product this past winter was one of the most competitive in history, conference-member teams were again ranked among the top clubs in the country throughout the campaign in the national polls, league-member student-athletes and coaches received numerous national accolades, the conference continued to generate new attendance records, and WCHA players and alums continued to play a prominent role in international and professional competition.
Witness the following team and individual highlights from the 2006-07 season:
The WCHA had six teams ranked among the nation's top 20 in the final USCHO.com/CSTV Div. 1 Men's Poll for 2006-07 ... Minnesota was No. 2, North Dakota was No. 6, St. Cloud State was No. 7, Denver was No. 15, Wisconsin was No. 17, Michigan Tech was No. 19, and Colorado College was No. 20. In the final USA Today/USA Hockey Magazine Poll, North Dakota was No. 3, Minnesota was No. 5, St. Cloud State was No. 8, and Denver was No. 15.
The WCHA placed a team in the NCAA Men's Frozen Four - North Dakota - for the 52nd time in 55 seasons overall. For the Sioux, it was their third consecutive appearance in the Frozen Four under coach Dave Hakstol. Denver will serve as the host city for the NCAA Men's Frozen Four in 2008 while both Wisconsin (Kohl Center) and Colorado College (Colorado Springs World Arena) will host NCAA Regionals next season.
Western Collegiate Hockey Association-member teams produced a combined 53-24-6 record in non-conference play in 2006-07, for a .675 winning percentage. Since 2000, WCHA teams are a combined 348-153-54 (.676) against the other Div. 1 men's hockey conferences.
WCHA home attendance reached another new milestone in 2006-07, this time surpassing the 1.6 million mark for the first time time with a record total of 1,606,686 and a per game average attendance of 7,370. The WCHA has now surpassed the one million mark in home attendance 14 straight seasons and 1.5 million for five straight seasons.
For the first time since the WCHA expanded to 10 member teams with the addition of Minnesota State, Mankato in 1999-2000, and for the first time since the 1994-95 season overall, every league member team won at least 10 games overall. By the conclusion of the 2006-07 campaign, every member team had won at least 13 games overall and seven won at least 18.
The University of Minnesota Golden Gophers, for only the ninth time in WCHA history, successfully defended it's regular season championship and captured the MacNaughton Cup on March 3. Selected as the pre-season co-favorite along with Wisconsin by the league's head coaches, Minnesota went 18-7-3 for 39 points in 28 WCHA games, four better than runner-up St. Cloud State. Fourteen of UM's players were underclassmen as the Gophers claimed the program's 12th league title. Minnesota head coach Don Lucia won his fifth MacNaughton Cup behind a WCHA team bench - the last two with Minnesota and three with Colorado College in 1994, 1995 and 1996.
Home teams won 54.3% of the time in 2006-07 league play while 68 of the 140 WCHA games overall - or 48.6% - were decided by one goal or less. Nineteen of those ended in overtime ties.
Minnesota also won the Broadmoor Trophy at the record setting 2007 Red Baron WCHA Final Five, held March 15-17 at Xcel Energy Center in Saint Paul, Minn. The Golden Gophers became only the third team in the past 10 years to win both the regular season and playoff titles in the WCHA, defeating North Dakota, 3-2 on a dramatic overtime goal by forward and tournament Most Valuable Player Blake Wheeler, in the title game before a WCHA record-setting sellout crowd of 19,463. In all, the Final Five drew a record 88,900 fans to eclipse the previous mark of 87,579 set in 2006 at Xcel Energy Center. The five games drew, in order, 16,449, 17,511, 19,359, 16,118 and 19,463.
North Dakota sophomore forward Ryan Duncan was named the winner of the 2007 Hobey Baker Memorial Award, becoming the sixth straight recipient from the WCHA and upping the league's record total of winners to 13 overall since 1981.
One other WCHA player - St. Cloud State senior goaltender Bobby Goepfert - was among the 10 finalists for the 2007 Hobey Baker award.
Five Western Collegiate Hockey Association players earned 2006-07 RBK All-American honors. Named to the West First Team were forwards Ryan Duncan (UND) and Jonathan Toews (UND) and defenseman Alex Goligoski (UM). Named to the West Second Team were defenseman Taylor Chorney (UND) and goaltender Bobby Goepfert (SCSU).
St. Cloud State freshman forward Andreas Nodl was named the first winner of the Hockey Commissioners' Association (HCA) National Rookie of the Year award.
Three WCHA head coaches - Dave Hakstol of North Dakota, Bob Motzko of St. Cloud State and Jamie Russell of Michigan Tech - were named as finalists for the American Hockey Coaches' Association 2007 Spencer Penrose Award as Division 1 men's hockey coach of the year.
WCHA post-season awards, announced on March 15 at the annual league awards banquet at RiverCentre in Saint Paul, went to: UND forward Ryan Duncan as WCHA Player of the Year and WCHA Scoring Champion; CC defenseman Lee Sweatt as WCHA Outstanding Student-Athlete of the Year; UM defenseman Alex Goligoski as WCHA Defensive Player of the Year; SCSU forward Andreas Nodl as WCHA Rookie of the Year; and to St. Cloud State's Bob Motzko and Michigan Tech's Jamie Russell as WCHA co-Coach of the Year. Also announced were the league's All-WCHA First, Second and Third Teams and the WCHA All-Rookie Team.
A total of 20 male student-athletes were honored as WCHA Scholar-Athletes in 2006-07, including repeat honorees Scott McCulloch (CC), Lee Sweatt (CC), Zach Blom (DU), Steven Cook (DU), J.D. Corbin (DU), Daniel King (DU), Tyler Skworchinski (MTU), Evan Kaufmann (UM), Joel Hansen (MSU), Erik Fabian (UND), and Nate Raduns (SCSU).
A total of 88 conference student-athletes, representing all 10 member teams, earned recognition on the men's 2006-07 All-WCHA Academic Team. Fifty of the 88 were repeat honorees from 2005-06.
The 10 finalists selected for the men's hockey division of 2006-07 Lowe's Senior Class Award were announced on Feb. 28 and the group included University of Denver goaltender Glenn Fisher and St. Cloud State forward Nate Raduns. Finalists were selected from a list of 30 candidates based on personal qualities that define a complete student-athlete. The criteria to determine the top ten included the areas of classroom, character and community in addition to performance in the hockey rink during this season.
Two long-standing WCHA player records were broken in 2006-07. North Dakota forward Chris Porter set a new conference standard for most consecutive games played at 175, breaking the previous mark of 171 held by UW's John Johannson (1980-84) and CC's Calvin Elfring (1994-98).
Minnesota senior goaltender Kellen Briggs, meanwhile, broke the WCHA record for most career victories by earning his 84th on March 24 in the Golden Gophers' 4-3 NCAA West Regional win over Air Force. The previous mark of 83 was set by UM's Adam Hauser from 1998-2002.
Former University of Minnesota hockey player Gary Gambucci was inducted into the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame on Oct. 7 in St. Paul.
Minnesota freshman forward Jay Barriball was the CSTV/HCA National Div. 1 Rookie of the Month for October, 2006.
SCSU freshman forward Ryan Lasch was the HCA/CSTV National Rookie of the Month for November, 2006.
North Dakota forward Jonathan Toews earned a Gold Medal with Canada at the 2007 IIHF World Junior Championship in Sweden over Chrisas-New Year's, while 11 other WCHA players earned Bronze Medals with Team USA. They were: Mike Carman (UM), Taylor Chorney (UND), Jeff Frazee (UM), Blake Geoffrion (UW), Erik Johnson (UM), Brian Lee (UND), Jamie McBain (UW), Kyle Okposo (UM), Jack Skille (UW), Ryan Stoa (UM), and Bill Sweatt (CC).
Three WCHA student-athletes - MSU's Chad Brownlee, UW's Andrew Joudrey and SCSU's Nate Raduns - were among the 13 nominees for the 2007 Hockey Humanitarian Award. Joudrey was then named one of five finalists.
SCSU freshman forward Andreas Nodl was the HCA/CSTV National Rookie of the Month for December, 2006.
Three former WCHA players - UND's Jason Blake and UW's Dany Heatley and Brian Rafalski- skated in the 55th Annual National Hockey League All-Star Game in Dallas on Jan. 24.
Four former WCHA players - DU's Matt Carle, UM's Phil Kessel and Thomas Vanek, and UND's Zach Parise - participated in the NHL Youngstars Game on Jan. 23.
Michigan Tech forward Mike Batovanja was an honorable mention for the first annual Derek Hines Unsung Hero Award, presented by the Hockey Commissioners' Association. The award went to Darouth senior Dan Schribman.
Former Colorado College and Wisconsin hockey coach Jeff Sauer led the 2007 U.S. Deaflympic Ice Hockey Team to a gold medal at the 16th Winter Deaflympics, held Feb. 1-10, in Salt Lake City, Utah, after finishing the round-robin tournament with a 4-1-0 record. The gold medal represented the United States' fifth medal in as many attempts at the Deaflympics.
Former Colorado College coach John Matchefts was named winner of the John 'Snooks' Kelley Founders Award on January 9 by the American Hockey Coaches' Association. Named after the famed Boston College coach, this award honors those people in the coaching profession who have contributed to the overall growth and development of the sport of ice hockey in the United States. Matchefts was a team captain and two-time All-American at Michigan, playing varsity hockey from 1951-53 and his playing career also included a number of years on the U.S. National Team, including the 1952 and 1956 (silver medal) Olympic Teams.
As the battle for the National Hockey League's Stanley Cup got underway in mid-April, a look at the 30 NHL-member teams found their 2006-07 rosters dotted with 74 former Western Collegiate Hockey Association players.
A total of 14 current and former Western Collegiate Hockey Association players competed in the 2007 IIHF (International Ice Hockey Federation) World Championship, held April 27-May 13 in Moscow, Russia. Members of Team USA included Tyler Arnason (F, SCSU/Colorado - NHL), David Backes (F, MSU/St. Louis - NHL), Keith Ballard (D, UM/Phoenix - NHL), Brandon Bochenski (F, UND/Boston - NHL), Matt Greene (D, UND/Edmonton - NHL), Erik Johnson (D, UM - St. Louis - NHL), Phil Kessel (F, UM/Boston - NHL), Toby Petersen (F, CC/Edmonton - NHL), Paul Stastny (F, DU/Colorado - NHL), and Ryan Suter (UW/Nashville - NHL). Members of Team Canada included Mike Commodore (D, UND/Carolina - NHL) and Jonathan Toews (F, UND). Playing for Austria was Bernd Bruckler (G, UW/Blues Espoo - Finland). And playing for Finland in the 2007 IIHF World Championship was Jarkko Ruutu (F, Michigan Tech University/Pittsburgh - NHL).
Three former Western Collegiate Hockey Association players - Ryan Carter of Minnesota State and Joe Motzko and Mark Hartigan of St. Cloud State - are on the roster of the 2007 National Hockey League Stanley Cup-champion Anaheim Ducks, who claimed the NHL's top prize on June 6th with a four games to one series win over runner-up Ottawa. Two other former WCHA players - Dany Heatley of Wisconsin and Tom Preissing of Colorado College - were members of the Ottawa Senators while in all, a total of 28 league alums participated in the Stanley Cup playoffs this season. Also of note, Patrick Eaves - son of Wisconsin men's hockey coach Mike Eaves - played in seven games with Ottawa during the 2007 playoffs and had two assists while Newell Brown, former head coach at Michigan Tech, is an assistant coach for Anaheim.
A total of 25 players with ties to the Western Collegiate Hockey Association and it's 10-member teams - including five who were taken in the first round - were selected in this weekend's 2007 NHL Entry Draft, held in Columbus, Ohio.
Chosen in the first round were: University of Wisconsin recruit Kyle Turris (F, Burnaby/BCHL), who was chosen No. 3 overall by Phoenix; Wisconsin recruit Ryan McDonagh (D, Cretin-Derham Hall (MN) HS), who was No. 12 overall by Montreal; University of Minnesota recruit Patrick White (F, Grand Rapids (MN) HS), who was No. 25 by Vancouver; Wisconsin recruit Brendan Smith (D, St. Michael's/OPJHL), who was taken at No. 27 by Detroit; and current Golden Gopher forward Jim O'Brien, selected No. 29 by Ottawa.
Chosen in the second round were: current Colorado College forward Bill Sweatt, selected at No. 38 by Chicago; Minnesota recruit Nico Sacchetti (F, Virgina (MN) HS), the No. 50 pick by Dallas; and Minnesota recruit Mike Hoeffel (F, USNTDP), chosen No. 57 by New Jersey.
Third round selections with WCHA ties were: Minnesota recuit Jake Hansen (D, White Bear Lake (MN) HS), No. 68 by Columbus; University of North Dakota recruit Jason Gregoire (F, Lincoln/USHL), No. 76 by the New York Islanders; and Michigan Tech University recruit Casey Pierro-Zabotel (F, Merritt/BCHL), No. 80 by Pittsburgh.
Fourth round NHL Entry Draft selections were: Minnesota recruit Cade Fairchild (D, USNTDP), No. 96 by St. Louis; North Dakota recruit Matt Frattin (F, Ft. Saskatchewan/AJHL), No. 99 by Anaheim; Wisconsin recruit Travis Erstad (F, Lincoln/USHL), No. 100 by St. Louis; North Dakota recruit Brad Malone (F, Sioux Falls/USHL), No. 105 by Colorado; North Dakota recruit Brett Bruneteau (F, Omaha/USHL), No. 108 by Washington; and North Dakota recruit Ben Blood (D, Shattuck (MN) HS), No. 120 by Ottawa.
Fifth round selections were: University of Denver recruit John Lee (D, Waterloo/USHL), chosen at No. 131 by Florida; Wisconsin recruit Josh Turnbull (F, Waterloo/USHL), No. 137 by Los Angeles; and North Dakota recruit Brad Eidsness (G, Okotoks/AJHL), No. 139 by Buffalo.
Sixth round draftees were current Minnesota State forward Jon Kalinski, selected at No. 152 by Philadelphia; St. Cloud State University recruit Dan Dunn (G, Wellington/OPJHL), No. 154 by Washington; and Minnesota recruit Taylor Matson (F, Des Moines/USHL), No. 176 by Vancouver.
Seventh round selections were: Minnesota recruit Nick Larson (D, Hill-Murray (MN) HS), No. 185 by Washington; and University of Minnesota Duluth recruit Scott Kishel (D, Virginia (MN) HS), No. 192 by Montreal.
And on June 25, the Western Collegiate Hockey Association announced the recipients of the league's annual Post-Graduate Scholarship Program for 2007-08. The men's winner was Nate Raduns of St. Cloud State University and the women's winner was Denelle Maguet, also of St. Cloud State University.
"The WCHA is tremendously excited and proud to announce the latest men's and women's Post-Graduate Scholarship winners," said Commissioner Bruce M. McLeod and Associate Commissioner Sara R. Martin in a joint statement. "Nate Raduns and Denelle Maguet represent the very best of collegiate athletics and we are proud to have had them both playing hockey and earning their degrees in the WCHA. We wish them both all the best in their future endeavors and know that both of them will be very successful in whatever they choose to pursue."
An advocate of excellence both on and off the ice, the Western Collegiate Hockey Association orginally announced it's annual post-graduate scholarship program in April of 2003 and beginning with the 2003-04 school year. The post-graduate scholarships are two grants of $10,000 each that are presented annually to a male and female student-athlete for post-graduate studies.
2006-07 WCHA Women's Highlights
The Western Collegiate Hockey Association's record run of consecutive women's national championships won continued in 2006-07 when the Wisconsin Badgers captured their second straight NCAA Women's Frozen Four title, capping an exciting season that will surely rank among the best ever. Now home to a record eight consecutive national championship teams since it's founding in 1999, the WCHA on-ice product this past winter was one of the most competitive in history, conference-member teams were again ranked among the top clubs in the country throughout the campaign in the national polls, league-member student-athletes and coaches received numerous national accolades, the conference continued to generate new attendance records, and WCHA players and alums continued to play a prominent role in international competition.
Witness the following team and individual highlights from the 2006-07 season:
National Championship: The WCHA retained its title of 'Home of the National Champions" as Wisconsin became the third WCHA team to repeat as the national champion. The WCHA has won the NCAA title in all seven years of its existence and has won the women's national championship eight straight times. Since the inception of the NCAA Women's Frozen Four in 2001, three different WCHA teams have won the title. Minnesota Duluth won the first three NCAA crowns in 2001, 2002 and 2003. Minnesota, after winning the national title in 2000, took home the NCAA titles in 2004 and 2005 and Wisconsin has won the last two crowns after beating UMD, 4-1 in the all-WCHA 2007 NCAA Women's Frozen Four final in Lake Placid, N.Y.
After blanking St. Lawrence in the semifinals, Wisconsin and goalie Jessie Vetter's NCAA tournament shutout streak ended at 422:36 when UMD's Emmanuelle Blais scored, but it took the Badgers just seven seconds to get that goal back when Jasmine Giles deflected in a rebound off an Erika Lawler rush. For the second NCAA final in two years, UW's Jinelle Zaugg scored the first goal. Erika Lawler added the second, and Sara Bauer scored the third. Bauer, UMD's Jessica Koizumi, Vetter, Zaugg, and UW defensemen Bobbi-Jo Slusar and Meagan Mikkelson were the other all-tourney selections. Bauer was the Most Outstanding Player.
National Attendance: The WCHA led the way again in national attendance in 2006-07. Wisconsin ranked first in average home attendance with at 1,362 for 20 homes dates. They also led the nation with a total home attendance figure of 28,607. Minnesota and Minnesota Duluth ranked second and third, respectfully, in both categories. WCHA home arenas were also the site of two of the top single-game attendance highs. Leading the way was the NCAA regional game at UW's Kohl Center against Harvard with 5,125 on March 10. Also ranked was a January sellout at Ridder Arena when Minnesota drew 3,251 for a game against Wisconsin. The Border Battle attracted 5,524 for the two-game series.
2007 World Championship Participation: The WCHA was well represented at the 2007 IIHF Women's World Championship in Winnipeg and Selkirk, Manitoba. Nine current WCHA players, Wisconsin coach Mark Johnson, who led Team USA, and seven former league players represented the WCHA. Four current UW players (forwards Meghan Duggan, Erika Lawler, Jessie Vetter and Jinelle Zaugg) and two former Badgers (defenseman Molly Engstrom and Kerry Weiland) skated for silver medalist Team USA. UM forward Gigi Marvin and ex-Gophers Krissy Wendell and Natalie Darwitz also played for Team USA as did former UMD skater Jenny Potter. The Bulldogs also had three current players and three alumni in the tournament. Current forward Michaela Lanzl skated for Team Germany. UMD teammates Elin Holmlov and Kim Martin played for Team Sweden, a roster which also includes UMD alum Maria Rooth. Carla MacLeod, who played at UW, and Caroline Ouellette, an assistant coach and former player at UMD, played for gold medalist Team Canada, along with Tessa Bonhomme, a defenseman at Ohio State. Former Buckeye Emma Laaksonen played for Team Finland.
In the Polls: During the 2006-07 season, six different WCHA teams were ranked among the top 10 in the national polls. Wisconsin, Minnesota, Minnesota Duluth, Minnesota State, Ohio State and St. Cloud State all cracked the polls at one point during the season.
Wisconsin, Minnesota and Minnesota Duluth were ranked in the top 10 during all 24 weeks of the USA Today/USA Hockey Magazine Women's College Hockey Poll and Ohio State was ranked for 12 weeks. UW, UM and UMD made the top 10 of the USCHO.com Division I Women's Poll in each of the 21 weeks of the poll. Four WCHA teams finished the season ranked in the top 10 of both national polls. UW was first in both while UMD was second in the USA Today/USA Hockey Magazine Poll and eighth in the USCHO.com. Minnesota finished ninth in both polls while OSU ended the year 10th in both polls. UW earned the No. 1 ranking 13 times.
AHCA All-Americans: The WCHA had five players named to the 2006-07 AHCA All-America team with three first-team selections and two second-team honorees. Wisconsin's Jessie Vetter was selected as the first team goaltender while UW's Meaghan Mikkelson (defense) and Sara Bauer (forward) were also named to the first team. Ohio State's Tessa Bonhomme (defenseman) and Wisconsin's Bobbi-Jo Slusar (defenseman) were second team selections.
National Coach of the Year: The AHCA named Wisconsin's Mark Johnson as Div. 1 national coach of the year for the second straight season.
Patty Kazmaier Award: For the second straight season, Wisconsin's Sara Bauer was one of the three finalists for the Patty Kazmaier Award, which goes to the top player in women's college hockey. Last year, Bauer won the award and two years ago Minnesota's Krissy Wendell became the first WCHA player to receive the honor.
WCHA Honors: For the second straight season, Wisconsin forward Sara Bauer was named the WCHA Player of the Year. UW defenseman Meaghan Mikkelson was the WCHA Defensive Player of the Year, Minnesota Duluth goaltender Riitta Schaublin was the WCHA Outstanding Student-Athlete of the Year for the second straight year, UW forward Meghan Duggan was the WCHA Rookie of the Year, the Badgers' Christine Dufour was the WCHA Goaltending Champion, Bauer was the WCHA Scoring Champion, and UW's Mark Johnson was the WCHA Coach of the Year.
2006-07 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.
2006-07 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.
2006-07 All-WCHA Third Team: F - Jessica Koizumi, UMD; F - Erika Lawler, UW; F - Bobbi Ross, UM; D - Melanie Gagnon, UM; D - Lisa Chesson, OSU; G - Christine Dufour, UW.
2006-07 All-WCHA Rookie Team: F - Meghan Duggan, UW; F - Holly Roberts, SCSU; F - Saara Tuominen, UMD; D - Holly Snyder, MSU; D - Michelle Maunu, UM and Ashley Lynch, UND (tie); G - Kim Martin, UMD.
UMD's Schaublin Named Student-Athlete of the Year Again: Minnesota Duluth's Riitta Schaublin was named the WCHA Outstanding Student-Athlete of the Year for the second straight season. A senior goaltender from Basel, Switzerland, Schaublin ranked among the league goaltending leaders, finishing third with a .938 save percentage and fourth with a 1.59 goals-against average. A two-time All-WCHA Academic Team member, Schaublin was a Patty Kazmaier Award finalist last year and completed her undergraduate degree in mathematics with a 3.94 GPA. She is pursuing her degree in the UMD Math Deparent's master's program during her final year of athletic eligibility and had a 4.0 GPA last semester while serving as a teacher's assistant for calculus II class. She plans to finish graduate school in December, 2007 and eventually obtain a PhD in economics.
League Announces Second Annual Group of WCHA Scholar-Athletes: The Western Collegiate Hockey Association, through Commissioner Bruce M. McLeod, Associate Commissioner Sara Martin, Minnesota State Faculty Representative Ken Anglin (Chair, men's league) and Ohio State Faculty Representative John Bruno (Chair, women's league) today (Feb. 1, 2007) announced the second annual group of WCHA Scholar-Athlete Award recipients.
Twenty-three (23) of this season's 49 WCHA Scholar-Athletes are repeat honorees. On the women's side, they were: Maggie Souba of Minnesota, Jessica Koizumi and Riitta Schaublin of Minnesota Duluth, Kristina Bunker, Jodi Helminen, and Shera Vis of Minnesota State; Mallory Peckels and Erika Vanderveer of Ohio State; Bobbie Anderson, Laura Fast, and Denelle Maguet of St. Cloud State; and Sara Bauer of Wisconsin.
"The WCHA is truly pleased to present this second annual group of WCHA Scholar-Athletes today," said McLeod, Martin, Anglin and Bruno in a joint statement. "These outstanding young men and women represent the very best in collegiate athletics and we are extremely proud to call them our own. This honor is among the most prestigious of all and is indicative of the tremendous commient these student-athletes have made at their respective institutions, both on and off the ice."
The WCHA Scholar-Athlete Award was developed though Association-member Faculty Representatives and approved by the conference membership beginning for the 2005-06 season. To earn recognition as a WCHA Scholar-Athlete, student-athletes must have completed at least one year of residency at their present institution prior to the current academic year and must also have a grade-point average of at least 3.50 on a 4.0 scale for the previous two semesters or three quarters, or may qualify if his or her overall GPA is at least 3.50 for all terms at his or her present institution. WCHA Scholar-Athletes were recognized and honored on-ice with a commemorative plaque at member team home games during the remainder of the 2006-07 season. The winners were also be recognized in tournament programs and in future men's and women's conference yearbooks.
Women's WCHA Scholar-Athletes for 2006-07 were (*repeat honoree): BSU: Brooke Collins, So; Lisa Kissick, So; Monica Rawlings, So; Kate Robinson, Sr; Helena Tageson, Sr; Nina Ziegenhals, Sr. UM: Gigi Marvin, So; Maggie Souba*, Sr. UMD: Jessica Koizumi*, Sr; Riitta Schaublin*, Sr; Myriam Trepanier, So. MSU: Kristina Bunker*, Jr; Jenna Hewitt, So; Lindsay Macy, Jr; Shera Vis*, Sr. UND: Aynsley Allen, Sr; Christey Allen, Jr; Christy Carlson, So; Casie Hanson, So; Alyssa Johnson, So. OSU: Liana Bonanno, So; Erin Keys, Jr; Mallory Peckels*, Jr; Erika Vanderveer*, Sr. SCSU: Bobbie Anderson*, Jr; Laura Fast*, Jr; Denelle Maguet*, Sr. UW: Sara Bauer*, Sr.
2006-07 All-WCHA Academic Team: BSU: Haley Balcom, Emily Brookshaw, Brooke Collins, Tara Hiscock, Lisa Kissick, Jaime LeDuc, Jessica Pullar, Monica Rawlings, Kate Robinson, Helena Tageson, Nina Zieganhals. UM: Lindsay Block, Gigi Marvin, Erica McKenzie, Anya Miller, Andrea Nichols, Bobbi Ross, Maggie Souba, Dagney Willey. UMD: Karine Demeule, Kirsti Hakala, Jessica Koizumi, Michaela Lanzl, Noemie Marin, Tawni Mattila, Riitta Schaublin, Myriam Trepanier, Suvi Vacker. MSU: Kristina Bunker, Jodi Helminen, Jenna Hewitt, Megan Jedinak, Britni Kehler, Lindsay Macy, Samantha Miller, Richelle St. Croix, Amanda Stohr, Andreanne Thibault, Shera Vis, Ashley Young. UND: Aynsley Allen, Christey Allen, Christine Carlson, Alexia Gagnon-LaPlante, Casie Hanson, Alyssa Johnson, Randi Motsko. OSU: Olivia Antognoli, Liana Bonanno, Amber Bowman, Jody Heywood, Megan Hostasek, Erin Keys, Whitney Miller, Mallory Peckels, Lacey Schultz, Krysta Skarda, Erika Vanderveer. SCSU: Bobbie Anderson, Hailey Clarkson, Jacqueline Jensen, Abby Krause, Laura Fast, Tricia Fast, Marie-Michel Lemieux, Denelle Maguet, Michelle Moen, Sammy Nixon, Brita Schroeder, Lauri St. Jacques. UW: Sara Bauer, Rachel Bible, Angie Keseley, Heidi Kletzien, Meaghan Mikkelson, Phoebe Monteleone, Jessie Vetter.
USCHO.com Honors: For the second straight year Wisconsin's Sara Bauer was named the USCHO.com Player of the Year and Badger teammate Bobbi-Jo Slusar was honored as the Defensive Player of the Year. Bauer was also recognized on the All-USCHO First Team with UW defensemen Slusar and Meaghan Mikkelson. Ohio State's Erin Keys received the Most Improved Player Award. Wisconsin goalie Jessie Vetter was a second-team honoree while Minnesota Duluth forward Noemie Marin and Ohio State defensemen Tessa Bonhomme and Amber Bowman were named to the third team. Wisconsin's Meghan Duggan was named to the All-Rookie team.
Hockey Humantarian Award: Jody Heywood, a junior defenseman at Ohio State, was one of the five finalists for the 2007 Hockey Humanitarian Award. Jody visits the local Children's Hospital once a quarter. She particpated in the Hurricane Katrina Phone-a-Thon which raised money for victims, as well as, the Schott-a-Thon, a Wish for Kids event. She periodically reads at the local school and is a volunteer at Race for the Cure. She spoke at Westerville Girl Power Day and helped at the Franklin County Youth Penitentiary Center where she was a volunteer with Youth for Christ to lead monthly chapels and meet with teenagers. She is involved with the athletes in action leadership team and has served meals at the YMCA for needy families. She also is involved with Habitat for Humanity, has spoken to youth groups for churches, and aided in classrooms of inner city schools as an Urban Concern Volunteer.
WCHA Post-Graduate Scholarship Winners: On June 25, the Western Collegiate Hockey Association announced the recipients of the league's annual Post-Graduate Scholarship Program for 2007-08. The women's winner was Denelle Maguet of St. Cloud State University while the men's winner was Nate Raduns of St. Cloud State.
"The WCHA is tremendously excited and proud to announce the latest men's and women's Post-Graduate Scholarship winners," said Commissioner Bruce M. McLeod and Associate Commissioner Sara R. Martin in a joint statement. "Nate Raduns and Denelle Maguet represent the very best of collegiate athletics and we are proud to have had them both playing hockey and earning their degrees in the WCHA. We wish them both all the best in their future endeavors and know that both of them will be very successful in whatever they choose to pursue."
An advocate of excellence both on and off the ice, the Western Collegiate Hockey Association orginally announced it's annual post-graduate scholarship program in April of 2003 and beginning with the 2003-04 school year. The post-graduate scholarships are two grants of $10,000 each that are presented annually to a male and female student-athlete for post-graduate studies.
WCHA Staff Directory
Commissioner: Bruce M. McLeod
Assistant Commissioner of Operations: Carol LaBelle-Ehrhardt (clabelle@du.edu).
Associate Commissioner: Sara R. Martin (sara@srmproperties.com).
Supervisor of Officials: Greg Shepherd.
Associate Commissioner for Public Relations: Doug Spencer (dspencer@mailbag.com).
Special Assistant to the Commissioner: Jeff Sauer (coachjsauer@juno.com).
Women's Public Relations: Bill Brophy (bbrof@aol.com).
WCHA Administrative Office Mailing Address & Phones: Western Collegiate Hockey Association, MSC 8302, University of Denver, 2211 S. Josephine Street, Denver, CO 80208-8302. Phone: 303 871-4223. Fax: 303 871-4770.
WCHA Women's Administrative & WCHA Public Relations Office Mailing Address & Phones: Western Collegiate Hockey Association, 559 D'Onofrio Drive, Suite 103, Madison, WI 53719-2096. Women's Administrative Phone: 608 829-0104. Public Relations Phones: 608 829-0100 or 608 277-0282 (Bill Brophy). Office Fax: 608 829-0200.
visit us on the web at: wcha.cstv.com