Coming in 2021-22 2020-21 WCHA Women's League WEEKLY RELEASE WEEK 17 (NCAA FROZEN FOUR) / wcha.com CONTACT: TODD BELL / O: 952-681-7668 / C: 972-825-6686 / [email protected] 2020-21 WCHA STANDINGS Conference Overall Rk (Natl Rank) Team Pts.% Pts GP W L T 3/SW GF GA GP W L T Pct. GF GA 1. (2/2) Wisconsin .750 36 16 12 3 1 2/0 62 25 19 15 3 1 .816 73 33 2. (6/6) Minnesota Duluth .708 34 16 11 5 0 1/0 50 23 18 12 6 0 .667 53 30 3. (3/3) Ohio State .667 32 16 11 5 0 1/0 43 32 19 13 6 0 .684 54 38 4. (5/5) Minnesota .632 36 19 11 7 1 0/1 62 40 20 11 8 1 .575 65 45 5. Minnesota State .333 20 20 7 12 1 2/0 38 56 20 7 12 1 .333 38 56 6. St. Cloud State .325 18.5 19 6 12 1 2/0 32 62 19 6 12 1 .325 32 62 7. Bemdiji State .208 12.5 20 2 16 2 2/1 24 72 20 2 16 2 .208 24 72 NOTE: For the 2020-21 season, points percentage will be used to determine the WCHA regular season champion. (3 points for a regulation win; 2 points for a 3-on-3 or shootout win; 1 point for a 3-on-3 or shootout loss; zero points for a regulation loss) (Rankings are USCHO.com followed by USA Today/USA Hockey Magazine) THIS WEEK IN THE WCHA (ALL TIMES LOCAL) THURSDAY, MARCH 18 SATURDAY, MARCH 20 NO. 5 MINNESOTA DULUTH VS NO. 1 NORTHEASTERN, 2 PM ET SEMIFINAL 1 WINNER VS. SEMIFINAL 2 WINNER, 7:37 P.M. ET NO. 3 OHIO STATE VS. NO.2 WISCONSIN, 7 PM ET Rankings are USCHO.com followed by USA Today/USA Hockey Magazine OPENING FACEOFF BY THE NUMBERS • WCHA Advances Three to the Frozen Four: For the second time in league • 238: Career points for Wisconsin's Daryl Watts, which leads all active NCAA history, three Western Collegiate Hockey Association teams have advanced to players and ranks 14th in NCAA history. the Frozen Four. No. 2 seed Wisconsin, No. 3 seed Ohio State and No. 5 seed • +35: Shots on goal margin for Ohio State over the last two periods of its 3-1 Minnesota Duluth are joined Hockey East's Northeastern in the 2021 field. NCAA quarterfinal win over Boston College on Tuesday. The Buckeyes outshot • The 2009 Frozen Four in Boston marked the fi rst time a trio of WCHA the Eagles, 43-8, in the second and third periods as they rallied from a 1-0 first teams reached the national semifi nals. Wisconsin defeated Minnesota intermission deficit en route to a 3-1 victory. Duluth in one semifi nal while Minnesota fell to Mercyhurst in the other • 26: NCAA tournament wins for Wisconsin following the Badgers' 3-0 win over semifi nal. The Badgers then defeated Mercyhurst, 5-0, in the national Providence on Tuesday. The total ties UW with WCHA rival Minnesota for the championship game. most in NCAA tournament history. • This year marks the seventh-consecutive Frozen Four with at least • 16: Ranked opponents faced by Ohio State this season in 20 games played - two WCHA teams in the fi eld and the 15th time in 20 tournaments that 80 percent of its schedule - including the Thursday's Frozen Four matchup the league has advanced multiple teams to the national semifi nals. with No. 2/2 Wisconsin. • With the Buckeyes and Badgers slated to meet in the second semifi nal • 6: Shutouts this season for Minnesota Duluth's Emma Söderberg, tying her on Thursday, the WCHA is guaranteed to have one team in the national for third on the UMD single-season list and ties her for second nationally this championship game for the 19th time in the 20 Frozen Fours that have season. been contested. Should Minnesota Duluth advance out of the fi rst • 3: Career goals scored against Colgate by Minnesota Duluth's Ashton Bell semifi nal, it would mark the sixth time in Frozen Four history that two after the senior potted the overtime game winner against the Raiders in WCHA teams played for the national title and the third time in the last Monday's semifinal matchup. Bell has recorded five points on three goals and four tournaments. two assists in three contests against Colgate. • The reigning NCAA champion, Wisconsin is making its seventh- straight Frozen Four appearance, the longest streak in NCAA history, THE WEEK AHEAD and their 13th overall. The Badgers are seeking their sixth national championship. • No. 5 Minnesota Duluth vs No. 1 Northeastern: The Bulldogs meet • Ohio State is making its second appearance in the Frozen Four this Northeastern for the third time in program history and the first time in the season and has now earned a national semifi nal berth in both seasons postseason. UMD won the two previous meetings, 3-2, and 12-0, Jan. 7-8, it qualifi ed for the NCAA tournament and games were played (Ohio 2001 in Duluth. The Bulldogs are 23-7-4 (.735) all-time against Hockey East State was in the 2020 fi eld before the tournament was cancelled). The opponents. Buckeyes previously reached the Frozen Four in their fi rst tournament • No. 3 Ohio State vs. No. 2 Wisconsin: The Buckeyes and Badgers will meet appearance in 2018. for the fifth time this season and the second time in less than two weeks on • Minnesota Duluth is making its eighth Frozen Four appearance and Thursday. Wisconsin holds a 3-2 advantage in the season series with each boast an 11-2 (.846) all-time mark with fi ve national championships in team winning one game on the other team's ice and the Badgers skating off those trips to rank No. 1 in all-time Frozen Four winning percentage. with a 3-2 overtime win in the WCHA Final Faceoff championship game on March 7 in Minneapolis. HOME OF A RECORD 17 NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP TEAMS 2000 • 2001 • 2002 • 2003 • 2004 • 2005 •2006 • 2007 • 2008 • 2009 • 2010 • 2011 • 2012 • 2013 • 2015 • 2016 • 2019 #WEAREWCHA | #LEADERSANDCHAMPIONS @wcha_whockey @wcha_whockey/WCHAwomenshockey FloHockey.tv /WCHAHockey WCHA QUICK FACTS #WEAREWCHA WCHA Mission Website ......................................................................................................................wcha.com Streaming Partner .............................................................................................fl ohockey.tv The WCHA exists to achieve the highest level of competitive excellence in an Headquarters ...........................................................................................2950 Metro Drive environment that supports the academic and personal growth of all student Suite 102 athletes. Bloomington, Minn. 55425 Phone ................................................................................................................. 952-681-7947 Email ...................................................................................................................pr@wcha.com WCHA Purpose Twitter ......................................................................................................@WCHA_WHockey Instagram .................................................................................................. @wcha_whockey The WCHA is dedicated to outreach, education and support of men’s and Facebook ......................................................................................... /WCHAwomenshockey women’s intercollegiate ice hockey competition in furtherance of the student- LinkedIn .............................................................................................................. /wchahockey athletes that participate and its Member institutions, all under conditions compatible with the objectives, functions, and responsibilities of institutions Founded ............................................................................................................................... 1999 of higher learning. The WCHA is organized for the purpose of continuing First Season .......................................................................................................... 1999-2000 and improving competition in men’s and women’s ice hockey, both among its Members and with other interested institutions of higher learning. This Commissioner ............................................................................................Jennifer Flowers Association will provide a forum in which the representation of the Members Phone ............................................................................................................... 952-426-4393 will meet periodically for the discussion of mutual problems, the elimination Email .......................................................................................................jfl [email protected] of misunderstandings, the exchange of information and the determination of policies and procedures for ice hockey competition among Members. Assistant Commissioner, Operations ...........................................................................................................................Dean Thibodeau Offi ce .................................................................................................................952-446-7152 WCHA Objectives Email ................................................................................................ [email protected] • Maintaining the highest standard of valuing excellence on the ice and in Marketing & Communications Manager the classroom. .........................................................................................................................................Todd Bell • Foster sportsmanship, fair play, and mutual respect by all Members of Offi ce .................................................................................................................952-681-7668 the WCHA. Mobile ...............................................................................................................972-825-6686 • Insisting on the strict adherence to the concepts of compliance,