2009–10 WCHA women's ice hockey season explained

2009–10 Western Collegiate Hockey Association women's ice hockey season
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League:NCAA Division I
Sport:Ice hockey
Pixels:125px
Duration:September 2009 - March, 2010
No Of Teams:8
Season:Tournament
Season Champs:Minnesota-Duluth Bulldogs
Season Champ Name:Champion
League Champs:Minnesota Golden Gophers
League Champ Name:Runners-Up
Seasonslistnames:Ice hockey
Prevseason Year:08–09
Nextseason Year:10–11

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]

Exhibition games

Exhibition games against Canadian teams

Three games were played against Canadian Interuniversity Sport teams.

Date Location NCAA team CIS team Score
September 25Grand Forks, ND North Dakota ManitobaND, 3-1[4]
September 26Columbus, OH Ohio State Wilfrid Laurier 1–1, Ohio State scores in shootout[5]
September 26Grand Forks, ND North Dakota ManitobaMan, 3-2[6]

US Olympic exhibition games

Throughout the season, various NCAA schools played against the United States Olympic Hockey team.

Date Location NCAA team Score
September 25 WCHA All-Stars 6–1, USA[7]
September 26 St. Cloud State 13–0, USA[8] [9]
January 5 Madison, WI Wisconsin 9–0, USA[10]
January 12 Minnesota 8–5, USA[11]

WCHA All-Star Team

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 NixonJr. St. Cloud State
G Zuzana TomcikovaSo. Bemidji State
D Brittany HaverstockSo. Wisconsin
D Danielle HirschSr.St. Cloud State
D Kelly LewisJr.North Dakota
D Jaime RasmussenSr.Minnesota Duluth
D Shannon ReillyJr.Ohio State
D Anne SchleperSo.Minnesota
D Holly SnyderSr.Minnesota State
F Brooke AmmermanSo.Wisconsin
F Emmanuelle BlaisSr.Minnesota Duluth
F Mallory DeluceJr.Wisconsin
F Laura FridfinnsonJr.Minnesota Duluth
F Jasmine GilesSr.Wisconsin
F Caitlin HoganSr.St. Cloud State
F Christina LeeSr.Minnesota State
F Laura McIntoshSo.Ohio State
F Holly RobertsSr.St. Cloud State
F Natalie SpoonerSo.Ohio State
F Emily WestJr.Minnesota
F Alyssa WiebeSo.North Dakota
Note: G = goaltender, D = defense, F = forward
So. = Sophomore, Jr. = Junior, Sr. = Senior

Regular season

Standings

In season honors

Players of the week

Throughout the conference regular season, WCHA officials name a player of the week each Monday.

WeekPlayer of the week
10/05/09Chelsey Jones, Minnesota[13]
10/12/09Sarah Erickson, Minnesota
10/19/09Emmi Leinonen, Minnesota State
10/26/09Emmanuelle Blais, Minnesota Duluth[14]
11/02/09Meaghan Pezon, St. Cloud State[15]
11/09/09Raelyn LaRocque, Ohio State[16]
11/16/09Holly Roberts, St. Cloud State
11/23/09
11/30/09
12/7/09
12/14/09
12/21/09
12/28/08
1/4/10Felicia Nelson, St. Cloud State[17]
1/11/10Sarah Erickson, Minnesota[18]
1/18/10Natalie Spooner, Ohio State[19]
1/25/10Carolyne Prevost, Wisconsin[20]
2/1/10
2/8/10
2/15/10Holly Roberts, St. Cloud State[21]
2/22/10
3/1/10
3/8/10

Defensive players of the week

Throughout the conference regular season, WCHA officials name a Defensive player of the week each Monday.

WeekPlayer of the week
10/05/09Jorid Dagfinrud, North Dakota
10/12/09Zuzana Tomcikova, Bemidji State
10/19/09Noora Räty, Minnesota
10/26/09Jaime Rasmussen, Minnesota Duluth
11/02/09Becca Ruegsegger, Wisconsin
11/09/09Zuzana Tomcikova, Bemidji State
11/16/09Anne Schleper, Minnesota
12/07/09Noora Räty, Minnesota and Jennifer Harss, Minnesota-Duluth[22]
01/04/10Chelsea Knapp, Ohio State
01/11/10Becca Ruegsegger, Wisconsin
01/18/10Zuzana Tomcikova, Bemidji State and Ashley Nixon, St. Cloud State
01/25/10Noora Raty, Minnesota
02/17/10Alli Altmann, MSU-Mankato

Rookie of the week

Throughout the conference regular season, WCHA officials name a Freshman player of the week each Monday.

WeekPlayer of the week
10/05/09Brianna Decker, Wisconsin
10/12/09Katherine Wilson, Minnesota Duluth
10/19/09Minttu Tuominen, Ohio State
10/26/09Noora Räty, Minnesota
11/02/09Hokey Langan, Ohio State
11/09/09Audrey Cournoyer, Minnesota Duluth
11/16/09Mariia Posa, Minnesota Duluth
11/23/09Megan Bozek, Minnesota
11/30/09
12/07/09
12/14/09Megan Bozek, Minnesota
01/04/10Mary Loken, North Dakota
01/11/10Erika Wheelhouse, Bemidji State
01/18/10Jessica Wong, Minnesota Duluth
01/25/10Hokey Langan, Ohio State
02/15/10Hokey Langan, Ohio State

Postseason

WCHA tournament

Quarterfinals

Date Teams ScoreNotes
February 26Ohio State at WisconsinOSU, 3-1 Natalie Spooner gets a hat trick
February 27Ohio State at WisconsinOSU, 4-3 (OT)
Date Location Opponent Score
February 26 Ridder Arena Minnesota vs. MSU Mankato 5-8
February 27 Ridder Arena Minnesota vs. MSU Mankato 3-4 (3 OT)
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
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

Date Location Opponent Score Notes
March 7 Ridder Arena Minnesota vs. Minnesota DuluthMinn Duluth, 3-2Bulldogs fifth championship

NCAA tournament

See main article: 2010 NCAA Women's Division I ice hockey tournament.

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.

WCHA awards and honors

HonorSelection
Player of the Year(Tie) Felicia Nelson, St. Cloud State and Zuzana Tomcikova, Bemidji State[28]
Coach of the YearSteve Sertich, Bemidji State
Freshman of the YearHokey Langan, Ohio State
Student Athlete of the YearCaitlin Hogan, St. Cloud State
Defensive Player of the Year,Anne Schleper, Minnesota
Scoring ChampionHokey Langan, Ohio State
Goaltending ChampionNoora Raty, Minnesota
WCHA First TeamNatalie Spooner, F, Ohio State
Emmanuelle Blais, F, Minnesota Duluth
Emily West, F, Minnesota
Anne Schleper, D, Minnesota
Jaime Rasmussen, D, Minnesota Duluth
Noora Raty, G, Minnesota
WCHA Second TeamFelicia Nelson, F, St. Cloud State
Hokey Langan, F, Ohio State
Holly Roberts, F, St. Cloud State
Laura Fridfinnson, F, Minnesota Duluth
Megan Bozek, D, Minnesota
Rachel Davis, D, Ohio State
Zuzana Tomcikova, G, Bemidji State
WCHA Third TeamBrooke Ammerman, F, Wisconsin
Caitlin Hogan, F, St. Cloud State
Montana Vicharek, D, Bemidji State
Stefanie McKeough, D, Wisconsin
Jennifer Harss, G, Minnesota Duluth
All-Freshman TeamHokey Langan, F, Ohio State
Katherine Wilson, F, Minnesota Duluth
Brianne Decker, F, Wisconsin
Megan Bozek, D, Minnesota
Stefanie McKeough, D, Wisconsin
Noora Raty, G, Minnesota

WCHA all-academic team

National awards and honors

Patty Kazmaier Award nominees

Of the 45 nominees for the Patty Kazmaier Award, ten were from the WCHA.[29]

Player Position Class School Nationality
Emmanuelle Blais Forward SeniorUniv. of Minnesota Duluth
Laura Fridfinnson Forward Junior Univ. of Minnesota Duluth
Caitlin Hogan ForwardSeniorSt. Cloud State Univ.
Hokey Langan Forward Freshman Ohio State
Felicia Nelson ForwardSenior St. Cloud State Univ.
GoalieFreshman Minnesota
Anne Schleper DefenseSophomore Minnesota
Natalie Spooner ForwardSophomore Ohio State
GoaltenderSophomore Bemidji State Univ.
Emily West ForwardJunior Minnesota

2010 Olympics

Active players

Ten active WCHA players represented their respective countries in ice hockey at the 2010 Winter Olympics.

Player NCAA team Nationality Position Medal
Minnesota-Duluth Forward4th Place
Minnesota-Duluth ForwardGold
North DakotaForwardSilver
North DakotaForwardSilver
Heidi Pelttari Minnesota State ForwardBronze
Mariia Posa Minnesota State ForwardBronze
Noora RatyMinnesotaGoaltenderBronze
Nina TikkinenMinnesota State ForwardBronze[30]
Bemidji State Goaltender8th place
Saara Tuominen[31] Minnesota DuluthForwardBronze

Former players

The following former NCAA players will represent their respective countries in Ice hockey at the 2010 Winter Olympics.

Player NCAA team Nationality Position Medal
MinnesotaForwardSilver
Meghan Duggan Wisconsin ForwardSilver
Wisconsin DefenceSilver
Hilary Knight Wisconsin ForwardSilver
Minnesota ForwardSilver
WisconsinForwardGold[32]
Caroline Ouellette Minnesota DuluthForwardGold
WisconsinGoaltenderSilver
Wisconsin ForwardSilver

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: 2009-09-24 . UMD women picked third . 2023-04-17 . Duluth News Tribune . en.
  2. Web site: Brianna Decker Women's Hockey . 2023-04-17 . Wisconsin Badgers . en.
  3. Web site: 2009-09-24 . 0000017d-df61-d169-a77d-dff58cf40018 - Duluth News Tribune News, weather, and sports from Duluth, Minnesota . 2023-04-17 . Duluth News Tribune . en.
  4. Web site: Women's hockey kicks off season with win over Manitoba . 2009-09-27 . 2011-09-28 . https://web.archive.org/web/20110928115424/http://www.fightingsioux.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=58668&SPID=6403&DB_OEM_ID=13500&ATCLID=204801833 . live .
  5. Web site: Ohio State Buckeyes | Ohio State University Athletics. Ohio State Buckeyes. 2023-04-13. 2019-09-21. https://web.archive.org/web/20190921001507/https://ohiostatebuckeyes.com/. live.
  6. Web site: Sioux split opening series with 3-2 loss . 2009-09-27 . 2011-09-28 . https://web.archive.org/web/20110928115446/http://www.fightingsioux.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=58668&SPID=6403&DB_OEM_ID=13500&ATCLID=204802313 . live .
  7. Web site: USA Hockey . 2010-04-05 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20110611144117/http://www.usahockey.com/Qwest%20Tour%202009/default.aspx?id=270528&DetailedNews=yes . 2011-06-11 .
  8. Web site: USA Hockey . 2010-04-05 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20110611144331/http://www.usahockey.com/Template_Usahockey.aspx?NAV=TU_02&id=270568 . 2011-06-11 .
  9. Web site: St. Cloud State University Husky Athletics . 2009-09-25 . https://web.archive.org/web/20091107184109/http://www.stcloudstate.edu/athletics/sports/hockey-womens/schedule.asp . 2009-11-07 . dead .
  10. Web site: USA Hockey . 2010-02-01 . https://web.archive.org/web/20101206144752/http://www.usahockey.com/Qwest%20Tour%202009/default.aspx?id=277422&DetailedNews=yes . 2010-12-06 . dead .
  11. Web site: USA Hockey . 2010-04-05 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20101206151245/http://www.usahockey.com/Qwest%20Tour%202009/default.aspx?id=277742&DetailedNews=yes . 2010-12-06 .
  12. Web site: wcha.com. 2009-09-26.
  13. http://www.wcha.com/sports/w-hockey/spec-rel/100709aaa.html{{dead link|date=June 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}
  14. http://www.wcha.com/sports/w-hockey/spec-rel/102809aab.html{{Dead link|date=September 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}
  15. Web site: wcha.com. 2009-11-11.
  16. http://www.wcha.com/sports/w-hockey/spec-rel/111109aaa.html{{dead link|date=September 2016 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}
  17. Web site: wcha.com. 2010-01-30.
  18. http://www.wcha.com/sports/w-hockey/spec-rel/011310aaa.html{{Dead link|date=September 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}
  19. http://www.wcha.com/sports/w-hockey/spec-rel/012010aac.html{{Dead link|date=September 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}
  20. Web site: wcha.com. 2010-01-30.
  21. Web site: wcha.com. 2010-02-19.
  22. Web site: UMD Bulldogs - Women's Hockey . 2009-12-22 . https://web.archive.org/web/20110725165132/http://www.umdbulldogs.com/teams-womens-hockey.php?id=4738&page=news . 2011-07-25 . dead .
  23. http://www.gophersports.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=38864&SPID=3323&DB_OEM_ID=8400&ATCLID=204897322{{Dead link|date=September 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}
  24. Web site: BSU ends 14 playoff game losing streak; wins 2-1 in St. Cloud - Bemidji State University Official Athletic Site . 2010-03-01 . 2010-12-14 . https://web.archive.org/web/20101214080004/http://bsubeavers.com/news/default/18/2323/ . live .
  25. Web site: Welcome to collegehockeystats.net . 2010-03-01 . 2011-07-25 . https://web.archive.org/web/20110725145006/http://www.collegehockeystats.net/boxes/wmndndk1.f26 . live .
  26. http://www.wcha.com/sports/w-hockey/spec-rel/030710aab.html{{Dead link|date=September 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}
  27. http://www.wcha.com/sports/w-hockey/spec-rel/030810aaa.html{{Dead link|date=September 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}
  28. http://www.wcha.com/auto_pdf/p_hotos/s_chools/wcha/sports/w-hockey/auto_pdf/wchaw-2010awards-030410{{dead link|date=September 2016 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}
  29. Web site: wcha.com . 2010-02-19 .
  30. http://www.wcha.com/sports/w-hockey/spec-rel/011410aaa.html{{dead link|date=September 2016 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}
  31. http://www.wcha.com/sports/w-hockey/spec-rel/011310aac.html{{dead link|date=September 2016 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}
  32. Web site: Former Badgers named to Canadian Olympic roster - UWBADGERS.COM - the Official Web Site of the Wisconsin Badgers Athletics . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20110604013709/http://www.uwbadgers.com/sports/w-hockey/spec-rel/122109aac.html . 2011-06-04 . 2010-02-06.