The 2009–10 Western Collegiate Hockey Association women's ice hockey season marked the continuation of the annual tradition of competitive ice hockey among Western Collegiate Hockey Association members.
Preseason
According to a poll of league coaches, Wisconsin was the preseason pick to win the WCHA title. Defending WCHA champion Minnesota placed second in the poll; Minnesota Duluth placed third. All three of the teams qualified for the NCAA Frozen Four in the previous season.[1]
Brooke Ammerman and Brianna Decker of Wisconsin were voted Preseason Player of the Year and Preseason Rookie of the Year, respectively.[2][3]
The head coach of the WCHA All-Stars was Jeff Giesen of St. Cloud State, with Maria Lewis of North Dakota and Heather Farrell of Bemidji State serving as assistant coaches. The Athletic Trainer was Stef Arndt of St. Cloud State.
WCHA All-Star Team[12]
Position
Name
Class
School
G
Alyssa Grogan
So.
Minnesota
G
Ashley Nixon
Jr.
St. Cloud State
G
Zuzana Tomcikova
So.
Bemidji State
D
Brittany Haverstock
So.
Wisconsin
D
Danielle Hirsch
Sr.
St. Cloud State
D
Kelly Lewis
Jr.
North Dakota
D
Jaime Rasmussen
Sr.
Minnesota Duluth
D
Shannon Reilly
Jr.
Ohio State
D
Anne Schleper
So.
Minnesota
D
Holly Snyder
Sr.
Minnesota State
F
Brooke Ammerman
So.
Wisconsin
F
Emmanuelle Blais
Sr.
Minnesota Duluth
F
Mallory Deluce
Jr.
Wisconsin
F
Laura Fridfinnson
Jr.
Minnesota Duluth
F
Jasmine Giles
Sr.
Wisconsin
F
Caitlin Hogan
Sr.
St. Cloud State
F
Christina Lee
Sr.
Minnesota State
F
Laura McIntosh
So.
Ohio State
F
Holly Roberts
Sr.
St. Cloud State
F
Natalie Spooner
So.
Ohio State
F
Emily West
Jr.
Minnesota
F
Alyssa Wiebe
So.
North Dakota
Note: G = goaltender, D = defense, F = forward So. = Sophomore, Jr. = Junior, Sr. = Senior
February 27: After 3 hours and 47 minutes, Emily West scored at 1:16 of triple overtime to eliminate the MSU-Mankato Mavericks.[23]
Date
Opponent
Location
Score
Notes
Feb. 26
St. Cloud State
St. Cloud
0-3
Feb. 27
St. Cloud State
St. Cloud
2-1
End 14 game playoff losing streak
Feb. 28
St. Cloud State
4-1
Advance to first ever WCHA Final Face-Off
February 27: Bemidji State ends its 14 game playoff losing streak in a 2-1 victory over St. Cloud State.[24]
Date
Location
Opponent
Score
Notes
Feb. 26
Heritage Center
North Dakota
6-2
Emmanuelle Blais scores 4 goals[25]
Feb. 27
Heritage Center
North Dakota
3-1
Sweep series
Semifinals
Date
Location
Opponent
Score
Notes
Ridder Arena
Minnesota vs. Ohio State
Date
Location
Opponent
Score
Notes
Ridder Arena
Minnesota Duluth vs. Bemidji State
Finals
March 7: The Minnesota Duluth Bulldogs defeated the Minnesota Golden Gophers 3-2 at Ridder Arena in Minneapolis to win the WCHA FINAL FACE-OFF playoff championship. It is the Bulldogs fifth WCHA playoff championship. This was their first postseason victory over the Golden Gophers since 2003. In addition, the Bulldogs lost three previous league playoff games against the Gophers at Ridder Arena.[26]
Date
Location
Opponent
Score
Notes
March 7
Ridder Arena
Minnesota vs. Minnesota Duluth
Minn Duluth, 3-2
Bulldogs fifth championship
NCAA tournament
March 8: Two teams from the WCHA will compete for the 10th NCAA Women's Ice Hockey Championship. The University of Minnesota will be the host school for the 2010 Frozen Four, to be held March 19 and 21 at Ridder Arena in Minneapolis. WCHA tournament champion University of Minnesota Duluth, and at-large selection Minnesota will be two of eight competing teams.
Minnesota Duluth (28-8-2) is seeded Number 2 and the Bulldogs will host the New Hampshire Wildcats (19-8-5) on Saturday, March 13 at 2:00 pm central standard time. The Golden Gophers (25-8-5) are the number 3 seed, and will host the Clarkson Golden Eagles (23-11-5), on March 13 at 4:00 pm central standard time. Minnesota Duluth won the Frozen Four for the first three years that the tournament was held (2001, 2002 and 2003). The Golden Gophers proceeded to win the next two Frozen Four tournaments (2004 and 2005).[27] Neither team has won since.
Record
Win %
R32
S16
E8
F4
CG
0–0
WCHA awards and honors
Honor
Selection
Player of the Year
(Tie) Felicia Nelson, St. Cloud State and Zuzana Tomcikova, Bemidji State[28]
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