WCHA Announces 2004-05 Women's Composite Schedule
Aug. 20, 2004
Madison, Wis. - The Western Collegiate Hockey Association (WCHA) and Associate Commissioner Sara Martin have announced the release of the 2004-05 women's composite schedule. The highlight of the season is the expanded WCHA Women's Conference Championship, March 3-6, 2005. The University of Minnesota's state-of-the-art Ridder Arena will once again serve as the tournament site after hosting the event for the first time in 2004. The 2004-05 season also marks a year of expansion as the league now boasts eight teams with the addition of the University of North Dakota.
"The 2004-05 season promises to be exciting with the changes in our league and tournament," said Martin. "The addition of North Dakota, which enjoyed success as an independent, makes the WCHA even more competitive from top to bottom And we?re looking forward to being able to showcase all eight of our member institutions at the conference championship."
"The league has experienced tremendous growth since its inception six years ago," said Martin. "We are proud to be the home to all of the national champions (Minnesota and Minnesota Duluth) since the first tournament in 2000. Our goal is to continue the growth of women's hockey and see all of our member teams regularly competing for championships."
The inaugural WCHA tournament, in March of 2000, was held at the Bloomington (Minn.) Ice Garden, followed by the 2001 event at Recreation Center in Rochester, Minn., the 2002 Final Five at Fogerty Arena in Blaine, Minn., and the 2003 Final Five at Ralph Engelstad Arena in Grand Forks, N.D.
"Minnesota put on a terrific tournament last year," said Martin. "We"re excited to have the opportunity to return to their first-class facility for our premier event."
For the first time in league history, the tournament will feature all eight member teams and be played over the course of four days. The tournament will get underway on Thursday, March 3 with two quarterfinal games featuring the No. 1 seed vs. the No. 8 seed and the No. 2 seed vs. the No. 7 seed. Friday's quarterfinals match-up the No. 3 seed vs. the No. 6 seed and the No. 4 seed vs. the No. 5 seed. The winners of the quarterfinal games will advance to Saturday's semifinals. The tournament concludes Sunday with the Third Place Game and the Championship.
Another change to the 2004-05 schedule is the expansion of the NCAA Division I Women's Ice Hockey Championship bracket from four teams to eight teams. The 2005 NCAA championship commences with quarterfinal competition the weekend of March 18-20. Host sites and dates are to be determined. The Women's Frozen Four will be held March 25 and 27 at the University of New Hampshire.
The puck drops on the WCHA's sixth season Friday, October 8 with two league match-ups as the defending WCHA and NCAA champion, Minnesota, travels to North Dakota and St. Cloud State travels to Ohio State. Wisconsin also opens the regular season on October 8 as they host Wayne State in a non-conference game. The regular season concludes February 25-27 with Minnesota State at Ohio State, North Dakota at Bemidji State, Wisconsin at St. Cloud State and Minnesota at Minneota Duluth.
Key non-conference meetings include a rematch of the 2004 NCAA Women's Frozen Four championship as Minnesota travels to Harvard for the Crimson's Thanksgiving Tournament. Minnesota State travels to Durham, New Hampshire where they will face the University of New Hampshire as well as 2004 National Qualifier Dartmouth. St. Cloud State hosts the other participant from the 2004 Women's Frozen Four as St. Lawrence travels to the National Sports Center for a two-game series.
Formed in 1999-2000, the Western Collegiate Hockey Association's Women's league consists of Bemidji State University, the University of Minnesota, the University of Minnesota Duluth, the University of North Dakota, Minnesota State University, Ohio State University, St. Cloud State University and the University of Wisconsin. Minnesota captured the national championship crown in the league's first season of 1999-2000 and again in 2004. Minnesota Duluth won the three consecutive NCAA Women's Frozen Four titles in 2001, 2002 and 2003.
Other highlights from the 2003-04 season include Minnesota being just the second team to capture the WCHA regular season, WCHA Final Five and NCAA Championships in the same year. Minnesota Duluth also achived that feat in 2002. Minnesota head coach Laura Haldorson was named the 2004 American Hockey Coaches Association Division I Coach of the Year. Minnesota State's Jeff Vizenor was tabbed the WCHA's Coach of the year. The WCHA led the way as it placed seven student-athletes on the 2004 All-America First and Second Teams, as chosen by the American Hockey Coaches Association. Minnesota forward Krissy Wendell, along with Minnesota Duluth forwards, Jenny Potter and Caroline Ouellette, were named to the first team. Named to the second team were Minnesota forward Natalie Darwitz, Minnesota Duluth defenseman Julianne Vasichek, Minnesota State goaltender Shari Vogt and Wisconsin defenseman Carla MacLeod. Minnesota Duluth led all schools with three selections while Minnesota tied with Harvard with two. Three WCHA teams finished the season ranked among the top 10 in the national polls as Minnesota was first in both the USCHO.com poll and the USA Today/American College Hockey Magazine poll. Minnesota Duluth finished ranked fifth in the USA Today/American College Hockey Magazine poll and was sixth in the USCHO.com poll while Wisconsin was fifth in the USCHO.com poll and sixth in the USA Today/American College Hockey Magazine poll.
Five players representing three WCHA teams were among the top 10 finalists for the 2004 Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award. The WCHA boasted the most players from one league among the top 10 finalists. Natalie Darwitz and Krissy Wendell from Minnesota and Jenny Potter from Minnesota Duluth were named top 10 finalists for the second year in a row. The three are joined by fellow WCHA members Caroline Ouellette of Minnesota Duluth and Shari Vogt from Minnesota State. Potter was named as one of the 2004 Kazmaier Award top three finalists for the second straight year.
The composite 2004-05 schedule is as follows.
October | November | December | January | February | March
October
Friday/1
TBA @ Wisconsin (x) 7:05 pm CT
Saturday/2
Univ. of Regina @ Bemidji State (x) 7:05 pm CT
Sunday/3
Etobicoke @ Ohio State (x) 1:05 pm ET
Univ. of Regina @ North Dakota (x) 2:05 pm CT
Friday/8
St. Cloud State @ Ohio State 7:05 pm ET
Minnesota @ North Dakota 7:05 pm CT
Wayne State @ Wisconsin (nc) 7:05 pm CT
Univ. of Manitoba @ Minnesota State (x) (ASA) 7:05 pm CT
Saturday/9
St. Cloud State @ Ohio State 7:05 pm ET
Minnesota @ North Dakota 7:05 pm CT
Wayne State @ Wisconsin (nc) 7:05 pm CT
Bemidji State @ Mercyhurst (nc) 2:05 pm ET
Sunday/10
Bemidji State @ Mercyhurst (nc) 1:00 pm ET
Friday/15
North Dakota @ Minnesota Duluth 7:05 pm CT
St. Cloud State @ Minnesota 7:05 pm CT
Ohio State @ Minnesota State (ASA) 7:05 pm CT
Saturday/16
Bemidji State @ Wisconsin 2:05 pm CT
North Dakota @ Minnesota Duluth 7:05 pm CT
St. Cloud State @ Minnesota 7:05 pm CT
Ohio State @ Minnesota State (ASA) 3:05 pm CT
Sunday/17
Bemidji State @ Wisconsin 2:05 pm CT
Friday/22
Wisconsin @ Ohio State 7:05 pm ET
Minnesota @ Bemidji State 2:05 pm CT
North Dakota @ St. Cloud State 7:05 pm CT
Minnesota Duluth @ Minnesota State (ASA) 7:05 pm CT
Saturday/23
Wisconsin @ Ohio State 7:05 pm ET
Minnesota @ Bemidji State 2:05 pm CT
North Dakota @ St. Cloud State 2:05 pm CT
Minnesota Duluth @ Minnesota State (ASA) 7:05 pm CT
Friday/29
St. Cloud State @ Wisconsin 2:05 pm CT
Minnesota Duluth @ Bemidji State 7:05 pm CT
Minnesota @ Minnesota State (ASA) 7:05 pm CT
Ohio State @ North Dakota 7:05 pm CT
Saturday/30
St. Cloud State @ Wisconsin 2:05 pm CT
Minnesota Duluth @ Bemidji State 2:05 pm CT
Minnesota @ Minnesota State (ASA) 7:05 pm CT
Ohio State @ North Dakota 7:05 pm CT
November
Friday/5
Wisconsin @ Minnesota Duluth 7:05 pm CT
Minnesota State @ St. Cloud State 7:05 pm CT
Saturday/6
Ohio State @ Minnesota 1:05 pm CT
Minnesota State @ St. Cloud State 2:05 pm CT
Bemidji State @ North Dakota 2:05 pm CT
Wisconsin @ Minnesota Duluth 7:05 pm CT
Sunday/7
Ohio State @ Minnesota 1:05 pm CT
Bemidji State @ North Dakota 2:05 pm CT
Friday/12
Minnesota State @ Bemidji State 2:05 pm CT
North Dakota @ Univ. of Connecticut (nc) 7:00 pm ET
Wayne State @ St. Cloud State (nc) 2:05 pm CT
Saturday/13
Minnesota State @ Bemidji State 2:05 pm CT
Northeastern @ Ohio State (nc) 2:05 pm ET
North Dakota @ Connecticut (nc) 4:00 pm ET
Wayne State @ St. Cloud State (nc) 2:05 pm CT
Sunday/14
Northeastern @ Ohio State (nc) 2:05 pm ET
Friday/19
Bemidji State @ Ohio State 7:05 pm ET
Minnesota Duluth @ Minnesota 7:05 pm CT
Connecticut @ Minnesota State (nc) (MWCC) 2:35 pm CT
Saturday/20
Minnesota Duluth @ Minnesota 7:05 pm CT
Wisconsin @ North Dakota 2:05 pm CT
Connecticut @ Minnesota State (nc) (MWCC) 2:35 pm CT
Sunday/21
Bemidji State @ Ohio State 12:05 pmET
Wisconsin @ North Dakota 2:05 pm CT
Friday/26
St. Cloud State @ Bemidji State 7:05 pm CT
Ohio State @ Minnesota Duluth 7:05 pm CT
Minnesota vs Northeastern @ 1:00 pm ET
Harvard Thanksgiving Tournament (nc)
Wisconsin vs Harvard @ 4:00 pm ET
Harvard Thanksgiving Tournament (nc)
North Dakota @ Quinnipiac (nc) 7:00 pm ET
Saturday/27
St. Cloud State @ Bemidji State 2:05 pm CT
Ohio State @ Minnesota Duluth 7:05 pm CT
Wisconsin vs Northeastern 1:00 pm ET
@ Harvard Thanksgiving Tournament (nc)
North Dakota @ Quinnipiac (nc) 3:00 pm ET
Minnesota vs Harvard 4:00 pm ET
@ Harvard Thanksgiving Tournament (nc)
Minnesota State @ New Hampshire (nc) 4:00 pm ET
Sunday/28
Minnesota State vs Dartmouth 1:00 pm ET
@ Durham, NH (nc)
December
Friday/3
Bemidji State @ Wayne State (nc) 7:05 pm ET
St. Lawrence @ St. Cloud State (nc) 7:05 pm CT
Saturday/4
Minnesota @ Wisconsin 2:05 pm CT
Minnesota State @ North Dakota 2:05 pm CT
Bemidji State @ Wayne State (nc) 2:05 pm ET
Minnesota Duluth @ Harvard (nc) 2:00 pm ET
St. Lawrence @ St. Cloud State (nc) 2:05 pm CT
Sunday/5
Minnesota @ Wisconsin 2:05 pm CT
Minnesota State @ North Dakota 2:05 pm CT
Minnesota Duluth @ Harvard (nc) 2:00 pm ET
Friday/10
Wisconsin @ Minnesota State (ASA) 7:05 pm CT
Saturday/11
North Dakota @ Ohio State 1:05 pm ET
St. Cloud State @ Minnesota Duluth 2:05 pm CT
Wisconsin @ Minnesota State (ASA) 3:05 pm CT
Minnesota @ Dartmouth (nc) 2:00 pm ET
Sunday/12
North Dakota @ Ohio State 1:05 pm ET
St. Cloud State @ Minnesota Duluth 2:05 pm CT
Minnesota @ Dartmouth (nc) 11:00 am ET
January
Saturday/1
Cornell @ Bemidji State (nc) 7:05 pm CT
Sunday/2
Cornell @ Bemidji State (nc) 2:05 pm CT
Vermont @ Minnesota State (nc) (ASA) 7:05 pm CT
Monday/3
Vermont @ Minnesota State (nc) (ASA) 7:05 pm CT
Friday/7
Minnesota Duluth @ Ohio State 7:05 pm ET
Bemidji State @ Minnesota 7:05 pm CT
St. Cloud State @ Minnesota State (ASA) 7:05 pm CT
Wisconsin @ Quinnipiac (nc) 7:00 pm ET
Saturday/8
Minnesota Duluth @ Ohio State 7:05 pm ET
Bemidji State @ Minnesota 2:05 pm CT
St. Cloud State @ Minnesota State (ASA) 7:05 pm CT
Wisconsin @ Quinnipiac (nc) 5:00 pm ET
Vermont @ North Dakota (nc) 2:05 pm CT
Sunday/9
Vermont @ North Dakota (nc) 2:05 pm CT
Friday/14
Minnesota Duluth @ Wisconsin 2:05 pm CT
Bemidji State @ St. Cloud State 7:05 pm CT
North Dakota @ Minnesota State (MWCC) 2:35 pm CT
Yale @ Ohio State (nc) 7:05 pm ET
Brown @ Minnesota (nc) 7:05 pm CT
Saturday/15
Minnesota Duluth @ Wisconsin 2:05 pm CT
Bemidji State @ St. Cloud State 2:05 pm CT
North Dakota @ Minnesota State (MWCC) 2:35 pm CT
Yale @ Ohio State (nc) 4:05 pm ET
Brown @ Minnesota (nc) 7:05 pm CT
Friday/21
Minnesota @ Ohio State 7:05 pm ET
North Dakota @ Wisconsin 7:05 pm CT
Minnesota State @ Minnesota Duluth 7:05 pm CT
Saturday/22
Minnesota @ Ohio State 7:05 pm ET
North Dakota @ Wisconsin 7:05 pm CT
Minnesota State @ Minnesota Duluth 7:05 pm CT
St. Cloud State @ Niagara (nc) 2:05 pm ET
Sunday/23
St. Cloud State @ Niagara (nc) 1:05 pm ET
Friday/28
Ohio State @ St. Cloud State 2:05 pm CT
Saturday/29
Bemidji State @ Minnesota Duluth 7:05 pm CT
Ohio State @ St. Cloud State 2:05 pm CT
Wisconsin @ Minnesota 2:05 pm CT
Sunday/30
Bemidji State @ Minnesota Duluth 2:05 pm CT
Wisconsin @ Minnesota 2:05 pm CT
February
Friday/4
Ohio State @ Bemidji State 2:05 pm CT
Minnesota @ St. Cloud State 7:05 pm CT
Saturday/5
Minnesota State @ Wisconsin 2:05 pm CT
Ohio State @ Bemidji State 2:05 pm CT
Minnesota @ St. Cloud State 7:05 pm CT
Minnesota Duluth @ North Dakota 2:05 pm CT
Sunday/6
Minnesota State @ Wisconsin 2:05 pm CT
Minnesota Duluth @ North Dakota 2:05 pm CT
Friday/11
Ohio State @ Wisconsin 7:05 pm CT
Minnesota Duluth @ St. Cloud State 7:05 pm CT
Bemidji State @ Minnesota State (ASA) 7:05 pm CT
Saturday/12
Minnesota Duluth @ St. Cloud State 2:05 pm CT
North Dakota @ Minnesota 2:05 pm CT
Bemidji State @ Minnesota State (ASA) 3:05 pm CT
Ohio State @ Wisconsin 7:05 pm CT
Sunday/13
North Dakota @ Minnesota 2:05 pm CT
Friday/18
Wisconsin @ Bemidji State 2:05 pm CT
Ohio State @ Niagara (nc) 7:00 pm ET
Saturday/19
Wisconsin @ Bemidji State 2:05 pm CT
Minnesota State @ Minnesota (@ Mariucci) 3:05 pm CT
St. Cloud State @ North Dakota TBA
Ohio State @ Niagara (nc) 7:00 pm ET
Sunday/20
St. Cloud State @ North Dakota 2:05 pm CT
Minnesota State @ Minnesota 3:05 pm CT
Friday/25
Minnesota State @ Ohio State 7:05 pm ET
North Dakota @ Bemidji State 7:05 pm CT
Wisconsin @ St. Cloud State 7:05 pm CT
Saturday/26
North Dakota @ Bemidji State 2:05 pm CT
Wisconsin @ St. Cloud State 2:05 pm CT
Minnesota State @ Ohio State 4:05 pm ET
Minnesota @ Minnesota Duluth 7:05 pm CT
Sunday/27
Minnesota @ Minnesota Duluth 3:05 pm CT
END OF REGULAR SEASON
March
Thursday/3
2005 WCHA Women¹s Playoff Championship @ Ridder Arena
Minneapolis, MN
Game A: Team No. 8 vs Team No. 1 TBA
Game B: Team No. 7 vs Team No. 2 TBA
Friday/4
Game C: Team No. 6 vs Team No. 3 TBA
Game D: Team No. 5 vs Team No. 4 TBA
Saturday/5
Semi-Final No. 1 TBA
Semi-Final No. 2 TBA
Sunday/6
Third Place Game TBA
Championship Game TBA
Friday/18
2005 NCAA Tournament (TBA)
Saturday/19
2005 NCAA Tournament
Sunday/20
2005 NCAA Tournament
Friday/25
2005 NCAA Women¹s Frozen Four @ Durham, NH (TBA)
Sunday/27
2005 NCAA Women¹s Frozen Four @ Durham, NH
(x) exhibition; (nc) non-conference; (ASA) All Seasons Arena; (MWCC) Midwest Wireless Civic Center
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