R 2017-18 WCHA WEEKLY RELEASE WEEK ONE (GAMES OF SEPT. 20-26, 2017) / wcha.com @wcha_whockey @wcha_whockey /WCHAWomensHockey Matt Hodson ● o: 952-681-7668 ● c: 612-801-2808 ●
[email protected] WESTERN COLLEGIATE OPENING FACEOFF HOCKEY ASSOCIATION • Leaders and Champions: The Women's League of the Western Collegiate Hockey Association (WCHA), home to a record 16 • FOUNDED 1999 • national championships (including 15 of a possible 17 Frozen Four crowns), seven Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award winners, 2950 Metro Drive, Suite 102 95 All-American and many Olympic, national team and professional players, officially drops the puck on its 19th campaign this Bloomington, MN 55425 weekend with the regular season opener. 952-681-7947 • Polling Place: The WCHA is well-represented in the preseason USCHO.com and USA Today/USA Hockey Magazine opinion polls, with No. 2 Wisconsin, No. 3 Minnesota and No. 5 Minnesota Duluth holding the same spot in both. Ohio State is also MEMBER TEAMS receiving votes in both ledgers. Bemidji State University • A New, Old Look for the WCHA: For the first time since the 2003-04 campaign, the WCHA's seven founding members will play University of Minnesota a 24-game league schedule in 2017-18. University of Minnesota Duluth • In addition to the 84-game gauntlet of the WCHA league schedule, member institutions will play a handful of Minnesota State University, Mankato nonconference games against each other. Bemidji State and Minnesota Duluth will face off in the U.S. Hockey Hall of Ohio State University Fame Game (Nov. 6 in Cambridge, Minn.), Minnesota will host St.