Many fans see the race to the National Championship playing out through one league, the WCHA. The Fact that the WCHA has won every NCAA Championship to date play a large role in that belief. The WCHA teams consistently reign in some of the nation’s top recruiting classes, produce large numbers of national team players, and most importantly win against the other leagues teams when it really counts. Those sentiments took a bit of a hit last season when the league’s top teams were rebuilding or missing players participating in the 2010 Olympics. This season look for the nation’s elite conference to bounce back and regain their spot above the rest of the pack. Defending National Champion Minnesota-Duluth, CO-Regular Season WCHA champion Minnesota, and three time NCAA Champion Wisconsin will look to play at the head of the class. Ohio State returns its key cogs that played upset in the fading weekends of last year, while North Dakota and Bemidji State look to build on expectations set in place one season ago. The league will also welcome new rinks in Bemidji and Duluth this year. The projects were both designed and constructed with the Women’s programs in mind right alongside the men’s teams. Despite where there playing it’s the results on the ice that really matter and looking ahead to Erie and the Frozen Four anticipate seeing at least one or more WCHA teams included in the battle to keep the NCAA National Championship trophy in the only league it has ever known.
WCHA Editor’s Poll
T-1. Wisconsin
The Return of Mark Johnson, Hilary Knight, and Meghan Duggan is sure to give the badgers the lift they were missing throughout the 2009-2010 season. In addition the Badgers have a solid freshman class headed up by phenom Alex Rigsby in goal to complement solid sophomore Becca Ruegsegger. Bucky returns 18 players from last seasons team that was rittled by injuries , defections, and questionable coaching decisions. The return of Mark Johnson as well as bringing in Jackie Friesen as a full time assistant should take care of any qualms in the coaching area. The return of Knight and Duggan as well as the additions of Brittany Ammerman, Madison Packer, Kelly Jaminski, and Laurel Miller should shore up any holes that the badgers may have showed both offensively and defensively. The Badgers are also aided this season with a WCHA schedule that has them playing back to back pre-season ranked teams once (Jan. 21-22 @ UMD, Jan 28-29 v. Minnesota) and a non-conference slate featuring RPI, Robert Morris and the Easton Classic where they will face Northeastern and Mercyhurst. If the Badgers can use their lesser talent opposition as warmups for the real competition then a first place finish should be within reach.
T-1. Minnesota-Duluth
Defending National Champion UMD returns four Olympians for the 2010-2011 season as well as four freshman. The Bulldogs will need all the help they can muster from the returnees and new additions to maintain their spot on top. The losses up front have to be the biggest concern for Shannon Millers squad, in addition to the untested repaired shoulder of senior forward Laura Fridfinnson. However with 12 returnees from last seasons team that managed to mesh when it counted should aid the dogs in the comfort category and give the freshman time to adjust to the speed and strategy that UMD puts into its game plan. The schedule fairy was also kind to UMD as they play away from home on consecutive weekends just twice and face pre-season ranked opponents on back to back weekends once. All in all if UMD plays up to their potential then first place could easily be within their reach. However with the talent laden programs at Wisconsin and Minnesota among others in the league ready to knock the bulldogs from their pedestal it will take a unified effort to withstand the assault that goes with being defending champions night in and night out.
3. Minnesota
Had the past two NCAA Frozen Four Semifinals gone the way Brad Frost intended then we may very well be looking at a gopher team ready to defend a second consecutive NCAA Championship. However losses in the semis the past two years have left the gophers feeling disappointed, empty, and hungry for the championship that has eluded them. With six freshman once again the gophers are a team filled with potential looking to match up with foes barring proven threats in the race to the WCHA Championship. What keeps the gophers in the mix is the fact that while over half the team is in their first or second college season, the ability those players have displayed in pressure situations or representing their National team shines ahead of many league veterans. The Gophers have possibly the toughest schedule draw amongst the WCHA teams that have won NCAA Championships. With Back to Back weekend at UMD and home against Wisconsin early on and series home against UMD, at Ohio State and at Wisconsin coming just one week into the second half the gophers will either be poised for a strong title run or limping to the final stretch with three weeks to play and upset ready teams in their wake. One thing I have learned covering the WCHA is never count Brad Frost out until the final game has been played.
4. Ohio State
After tasting the WCHA Final Faceoff for the first time a year ago and narrowly missing the championship game, Ohio State is primed and ready for more upsets this season. Returning ten of their top twelve point scorers from last season including sophomore Hokey Langan, the Buckeyes for the first time have enough proven fire power to compete with the leagues elite. Hopefully the bucks can rely on a healthy Chelsea Knapp to backstop them to victory and a chance to challenge Minnesota, UMD, and Wisconsin for the league championship. One area of concern is once again on defense. The Bucks lost their top defender Rachel Davis to graduation and will need to rely on Shannon Reilly, Teal Bishop, and Kelly Wild to stay out of the penalty box and poised on the ice in order to keep the opposition from opening up a shooting gallery on the OSU goal. If the Buckeyes can consistently dispatch the teams below them in the pre-season poll and do some damage to the poise of the teams above them then Jackie Barto and her troops could be poised for an exciting season in Columbus.
T-5. Bemidji State
The Beavers of Bemidji State rode stellar netmider Zuzana Tomcikova all the way to the WCHA Final Faceoff last season. With expectations set on a return trip to Minneapolis for this seasons Final Faceoff and all but three skaters returning this season, the Beavers hopes are high for a successful run. Standing in the way is a brutal schedule that sees the Beavers opening up the conference slate at Wisconsin before hosting repeat NCAA Semifinalist Mercyhurst. If the Beavers are lucky enough to make it through the meat of their schedule they are rewarded with a stretch run of games at UMD, home against Wisconsin, at Minnesota, and home against Ohio State to conclude the season. Not exactly the way to prepare for the playoffs, but if the Beavers can post reasonable showings then a place in the top half of the conference may very well be within reach. However I for one feel that once again Bemidji will be on the outside looking in when the WCHA finals roll around.
T-5. North Dakota
The addition of the Lamoureux twins has turned the nation attention to Grand Forks as Brian Idalski looks to his team in hopes they will make some noise in this seasons WCHA race. Last season the additions of Jordan Slavin and Jorid Dagfinrud among others rattled some cages early on, however by the end of the season the attention faded and fans were already awaiting the Lamoureux addition. While some think these two twin pillars are enough to make serious contenders out of the Sioux for the first time, others (myself included) feel this team is still a year away from seeing the wide ranging success the fans have all been waiting for. I just don’t think that this year is the year for a huge splash as the schedule is just too tough for the team to get on a long winning run and after the first line is off the ice, the level of talent goes down expenitaly which could make for some difficult battles in conference play.
7. St. Cloud State
Looking to rebound from a disappointing end to last season the SCSU Huskies will need to look for quality conference wins in order to succeed in this seasons well stocked WCHA. The Huskies will rely on goalie Ashley Nixon among their 16 returnees to lead a luke warm first year group that pales in comparison to those of the upper echelon WCHA teams. One constant for the Huskies has been the ability to surprise the opposition and for coach GIesen that very well may be the best tool in this arsenal this season. Facing an up hill climb St. Cloud will need to take advantage of each one of their home games as a road trip to Erie to open the season and their final three roadies of the year being trips to Wisconsin, the Twin Cities, and Duluth could make wins a premium commodity this year for the huskies of SCSU.
8. Minnesota State
The Mavs lost three keys to their limited success last season to graduation. Even with a larger than necessary recruiting class, the competitiveness of the conference may once again make wins for the Mavericks a difficult task. It will surprise many if MSU posts a record any better than their seven wins from last season or the twelve managed two seasons ago. The biggest reason the Mavs never seem to get on track is their schedule. To being with, the season slate can be summed up as brutal featuring road series against Minnesota-Duluth, Wisconsin, and Ohio State sandwiched with home series against North Dakota and St. Cloud who always play the MSU tough. The tough roads return to complete the season and when you factor in their entirely CHA non-conference schedule (Niagara, @ Wayne State, Robert Morris) it does not seem that success for this squad is feasible. Hopefully the limited leadership on the ice and a second year coach on the bench improve the odds for Minnesota State or a cold, frustrating winter in Manakto could very well be the case.
All WCHA Selections
First Team
D - Brittany Haverstock, Wisconsin
D - Anne Schleper, Minnesota
F - Haley Irwin, Minnesota-Duluth
F - Hilary Knight, Wisconsin
F - Hokey Langan, Ohio State
G - Noora Raty, Minnesota
Second Team
D - Kelly Wild, Ohio State
D - Jocelyne Larocque, Minnesota-Duluth
F - Meghan Duggan, Wisconsin
F - Monique Lamoureux-Kolls, North Dakota
F - Natalie Spooner, Ohio State
G - Kim Martin, Minnesota-Duluth
Third Team
D - Stefanie McKeough, Wisconsin
D - Montana Vichorek, Bemidji State
D - Mira Jalosuo, Minnesota
F - Brianna Decker, Wisconsin
F - Sarah Erickson, Minnesota
F - Laura McIntosh, Ohio State
F - Laura Fridfinnson, Minnesota-Duluth
G - Zuzana Tomcikova, Bemidji State
All Rookie Team
D - Kelly Jaminski, Wisconsin
D - Madison Kolls, North Dakota
D - Baylee Gillanders, Minnesota
F - Brittany Ammerman, Wisconsin
F - Amanda Kessel, Minnesota
F - Madison Packer, Wisconsin
F - Brienna Gillanders, Minnesota-Duluth
G - Alex Rigsby, Wisconsin
Pre-Season Player of the Year
F-Hilary Knight, University of Wisconsin
Back for her final two seasons in Madison with an Olympic experience under her belt Hilary Knight may be one of the worst kept secrets to the Badgers recent success. The problem for the opposition comes in containing Knight who has one of the hardest shots in the Nation and is physical enough to intimidate the majority of the players she will line up against. If that is not enough the badgers will look to incorporate her on a line that will play off her skill level and allow her to not only take advantage of good scoring chances but put her in position to attract enough attention that her linemates will be on the receiving end of quality chances each time they receive the puck from there skilled sniper.
Pre-Season CHA Rookie of the Year
G-Alexandra Rigsby, University of Wisconsin
Coming in with USA U-18 team experience and time as a USHL draft selection to start her final year of high school, Alex RIgsby is ready to truly hone her craft in the WCHA. Already tabbed with being the heir apparent of Jessie Vetter, Rigsby, without ever playing a game collegiality is thought to be a full season ahead in her development to where Vetter was as a redshirt freshman at UW. If RIgsby is even half the player she is thought to be, the badgers may have a solid edge against all of the competition it faces this season. Should “Alex the Great” end up as the badgers primary netminder this season then look for Rookie of the year to be hers for the taking.
Mel Webster is the CHA and WCHA Corrispondent for Beyond the Dashers
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