2009–10 WCHA women's ice hockey season

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==
* Sept. 24:The Badgers are the preseason pick to win the Western Collegiate Hockey Association women’s title, according to a poll of league coaches. Wisconsin went 34-2-5 last season en route to its third NCAA title in four years. The Badgers collected six first-place votes and 48 points in a poll of the eight coaches. Defending WCHA champion Minnesota, placed second with 43 points and two first-place votes. Minnesota Duluth, with 38 points, was selected to finish third. All three of those teams qualified for the NCAA Frozen Four last season. http://www.uwbadgers.com/mobile/mobile_story.aspx?sportid=138&storyID=19111 
=== WCHA Preseason Coaches’ Poll===
Place	School 	First Place Votes	Total Points
1 	Wisconsin 	(6) 	48
2 	Minnesota 	(2) 	43
3 	Minnesota Duluth	(0) 	38
4 	St. Cloud State 	(0) 	29
5 	Ohio State 	(0) 	23
6 	North Dakota 	(0) 	20
7 	MSU Mankato 	(0) 	16
8 	Bemidji State 	(0) 	7
 http://www.uwbadgers.com/mobile/mobile_story.aspx?sportid=138&storyID=19111
===Preseason ECAC awards===
*Player of the Year voting
Player 	School 	Votes
Brooke Ammerman	Wisconsin 	5
Natalie Spooner	Ohio State 	2
Saara Tuominen 	Minnesota Duluth	1
*Rookie of the Year voting
Player 	School 	Votes
Brianna Decker	Wisconsin 	6
Hokey Langan 	Ohio State 	1
Jennifer Hars 	Minnesota Duluth	1
===CIS Exhibition===
Date 	Location 	NCAA school 	CIS team 	Score
Fri. Sept 25	Grand Forks, ND	North Dakota	Manitoba 	ND, 3-1 http://www.fightingsioux.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=58668&SPID=6403&DB_OEM_ID=13500&ATCLID=204801833
Sat. Sept 26	Columbus, OH 	Ohio State 	Wilfrid Laurierhttp://www.ohiostatebuckeyes.com/SportSelect.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=17300&KEY=&SPID=10407&SPSID=87740	Tie, 1-1 (Ohio State scores in shootout)http://www.ohiostatebuckeyes.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=87741&SPID=10407&DB_OEM_ID=17300&ATCLID=204802525
Sat. Sept 26	Grand Forks, ND	North Dakota	Manitoba 	Man, 3-2http://www.fightingsioux.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=58668&SPID=6403&DB_OEM_ID=13500&ATCLID=204802313
===US Olympic exhibition games===
Throughout the season, various NCAA schools will play the United States Olympic Hockey team.
*On September 25, Natalie Darwitz was named the Player of the Game for Team USA.
Date 	Location 	NCAA school 	Score
September 25	Xcel Energy Center 	WCHA All-Stars 	6-1, US http://www.usahockey.com/Qwest%20Tour%202009/default.aspx?id=270528&DetailedNews=yes
September 26	National Hockey Center	St. Cloud Statehttp://www.stcloudstate.edu/athletics/sports/hockey-womens/schedule.asp	USA, 13-0http://www.usahockey.com/Template_Usahockey.aspx?NAV=TU_02&id=270568
January 5 	Madison, WI 	Wisconsin 	9-0http://www.usahockey.com/Qwest%20Tour%202009/default.aspx?id=277422&DetailedNews=yes
January 12 	Ridder Arena 	Minnesota 	8-5http://www.usahockey.com/Qwest%20Tour%202009/default.aspx?id=277742&DetailedNews=yes
==WCHA All-Star Team==
*On September 25, a group of WCHA All-Stars will play the US Olympic Team. The head coach of the WCHA All-Stars is Jeff Giesen from St. Cloud State. Assisting him are Maria Lewis from North Dakota and Heather Farrell from Bemidji State. The Athletic Trainer is Stef Arndt from St. Cloud State. The roster is as follows:
Position	Name 	Class 	School
G 	Alyssa Grogan 	Minnesota	So
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
http://www.wcha.com/sports/w-hockey/spec-rel/090909aah.html?SPSID=38864&SPID=3323&DB_OEM_ID=8400
==Regular season==
2009–10 Western Collegiate Hockey Association standings	2009–10 Western Collegiate Hockey Association standings	2009–10 Western Collegiate Hockey Association standings	2009–10 Western Collegiate Hockey Association standings	2009–10 Western Collegiate Hockey Association standings	2009–10 Western Collegiate Hockey Association standings	2009–10 Western Collegiate Hockey Association standings	2009–10 Western Collegiate Hockey Association standings	2009–10 Western Collegiate Hockey Association standings	2009–10 Western Collegiate Hockey Association standings	2009–10 Western Collegiate Hockey Association standings	2009–10 Western Collegiate Hockey Association standings	2009–10 Western Collegiate Hockey Association standings	2009–10 Western Collegiate Hockey Association standings	2009–10 Western Collegiate Hockey Association standings	2009–10 Western Collegiate Hockey Association standings
 	Conference 	Conference 	Conference 	Conference 	Conference 	Conference 	Conference 	Conference 	 	Overall 	Overall 	Overall 	Overall 	Overall 	Overall
 	GP 	W 	L 	T 	SW 	PTS 	GF 	GA 	 	GP 	W 	L 	T 	GF 	GA
Minnesota 	22 	17 	2 	3 	3 	40 	79 	29 	 	28 	21 	3 	4 	93 	34
Minnesota-Duluth 	22 	15 	5 	2 	1 	33 	68 	42 	 	28 	19 	7 	2 	88 	57
Wisconsin 	22 	12 	9 	1 	0 	25 	63 	49 	 	28 	15 	10 	3 	81 	61
Bemidji State 	22 	7 	8 	7 	3 	24 	41 	48 	 	28 	8 	13 	7 	50 	70
St. Cloud State 	22 	8 	10 	4 	3 	23 	49 	61 	 	28 	11 	11 	6 	70 	81
Ohio State 	22 	10 	10 	2 	0 	22 	70 	71 	 	28 	13 	11 	4 	91 	84
Minnesota State 	22 	2 	15 	5 	3 	12 	36 	74 	 	26 	4 	17 	5 	45 	87
North Dakota 	22 	4 	16 	2 	0 	10 	31 	63 	 	26 	5 	17 	4 	45 	74
===Players of the week===
Throughout the conference regular season, WCHA officials name a player of the week each Monday.
Week 	Player of the week
10/05/09	Chelsey Jones, Minnesotahttp://www.wcha.com/sports/w-hockey/spec-rel/100709aaa.html
10/12/09	Sarah Erickson, Minnesota
10/19/09	Emmi Leinonen, Minnesota State
10/26/09	Emmanuelle Blais, Minnesota Duluth http://www.wcha.com/sports/w-hockey/spec-rel/102809aab.html
11/02/09	Meaghan Pezon, St. Cloud State http://www.wcha.com/sports/w-hockey/spec-rel/110409aab.html
11/09/09	Raelyn LaRocque, Ohio State http://www.wcha.com/sports/w-hockey/spec-rel/111109aaa.html
11/16/09	Holly Roberts, St. Cloud State
11/23/09	
11/30/09	
 	
12/7/09 	
12/14/09	
12/21/09	
12/28/08	
1/4/10 	Felicia Nelson, St. Cloud Statehttp://www.wcha.com/sports/w-hockey/spec-rel/010610aad.html
1/11/10 	Sarah Erickson, Minnesota http://www.wcha.com/sports/w-hockey/spec-rel/011310aaa.html
1/18/10 	Natalie Spooner , Ohio State http://www.wcha.com/sports/w-hockey/spec-rel/012010aac.html
1/25/10 	Carolyne Prevost, Wisconsinhttp://www.wcha.com/sports/w-hockey/spec-rel/012710aaa.html
2/1/10 	
2/8/10 	
2/15/10 	Holly Roberts, St. Cloud State http://www.wcha.com/sports/w-hockey/spec-rel/021710aab.html
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.
Week 	Player of the week
10/05/09	Jorid Dagfinrud, North Dakota
10/12/09	Zuzana Tomcikova, Bemidji State
10/19/09	Noora Räty, Minnesota
10/26/09	Jaime Rasmussen, Minnesota Duluth
11/02/09	Becca Ruegsegger, Wisconsin
11/09/09	Zuzana Tomcikova, Bemidji State
11/16/09	Anne Schleper, Minnesota
12/07/09	Noora Räty, Minnesota and Jennifer Harss, Minnesota-Duluthhttp://www.umdbulldogs.com/teams-womens-hockey.php?id=4738&page=news
01/04/10	Chelsea Knapp, Ohio State
01/11/10	Becca Ruegsegger, Wisconsin
01/18/10	Zuzana Tomcikova, Bemidji State and Ashley Nixon, St. Cloud State
01/25/10	Noora Raty, Minnesota
02/17/10	Alli Altmann, MSU-Mankato
===Rookie of the week===
Throughout the conference regular season, WCHA officials name a Defensive player of the week each Monday.
Week 	Player of the week
10/05/09	Brianna Decker, Wisconsin
10/12/09	Katherine Wilson, Minnesota Duluth
10/19/09	Minttu Tuominen, Ohio State
10/26/09	Noora Räty, Minnesota
11/02/09	Hokey Langan, Ohio State
11/09/09	Audrey Cournoyer, Minnesota Duluth
11/16/09	Mariia Posa, Minnesota Duluth
11/23/09	
11/30/09	
01/04/10	Mary Loken, North Dakota
01/11/10	Erika Wheelhouse, Bemidji State
01/18/10	Jessica Wong, Minnesota Duluth
01/25/10	Hokey Langan, Ohio State
02/15/10	Hokey Langan, Ohio State
==Postseason==
===WCHA Tournament===
====Quarterfinals====
Date 	Time 	Teams 	Score 	Notes
02/26/2010	7:00 PM	Ohio State at Wisconsin	OSU, 3-1 	Natalie Spooner gets a hat trickhttp://www.ohiostatebuckeyes.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=87741&SPID=10407&DB_OEM_ID=17300&ATCLID=204896833
02/27/2010	7:00 PM	Ohio State at Wisconsin	OSU, 4-3 (OT)	Buckeyes win series 2-0
Date 	Location 	Opponent 	Score 	Notes
Feb. 26	Ridder Arena	Minnesota vs. MSU Mankato	5-8 	
Feb. 27	Ridder Arena	Minnesota vs. MSU Mankato	3-4 (3 OT)	Emily West gets the game winner
*February 27: After 3 hours and 47 minutes, Emily West scored at 1:16 of triple overtime to eliminate the MSU-Mankato Mavericks.http://www.gophersports.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=38864&SPID=3323&DB_OEM_ID=8400&ATCLID=204897322
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. http://www.bsubeavers.com/news/default/18/2323/
Date 	Location 	Opponent 	Score	Notes
Feb. 26	Heritage Center	North Dakota	6-2 	Emmanuelle Blais scores 4 goalshttp://www.collegehockeystats.net/boxes/wmndndk1.f26
Feb. 27	Heritage Center	North Dakota	3-1 	Sweep series
====Semifinals====
Date 	Location 	Opponent 	Score 	Notes
Mar. 6	Ridder Arena	Minnesota vs. Ohio State	5-4 2OT	
Date 	Location 	Opponent 	Score	Notes
Mar. 6	Ridder Arena	Minnesota Duluth vs. Bemidji State	7-3 	
====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. http://www.wcha.com/sports/w-hockey/spec-rel/030710aab.html
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 Forzen 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). http://www.wcha.com/sports/w-hockey/spec-rel/030810aaa.html Neither team has won since.
==WCHA Awards and honors==
Honor 	Selection
Player of the Year 	(Tie) Felicia Nelson, St. Cloud State and Zuzana Tomcikova, Bemidji State http://www.wcha.com/auto_pdf/p_hotos/s_chools/wcha/sports/w-hockey/auto_pdf/wchaw-2010awards-030410
Coach of the Year 	Steve Sertich, Bemidji State
Freshman of the Year 	Hokey Langan, Ohio State
Student Athlete of the Year 	Caitlin Hogan, St. Cloud State
Defensive Player of the Year,	Anne Schleper, Minnesota
Scoring Champion 	Hokey Langan, Ohio State
Goaltending Champion 	Noora Raty, Minnesota
WCHA First Team 	Natalie Spooner, F, Ohio State
WCHA First Team 	Emmanuelle Blais, F, Minnesota Duluth
WCHA First Team 	Emily West, F, Minnesota
WCHA First Team 	Anne Schleper, D, Minnesota
WCHA First Team 	Jaime Rasmussen, D, Minnesota Duluth
WCHA First Team 	Noora Raty, G, Minnesota
WCHA Second Team 	Felicia Nelson, F, St. Cloud State
WCHA Second Team 	Hokey Langan, F, Ohio State
WCHA Second Team 	Holly Roberts, F, St. Cloud State
WCHA Second Team 	Laura Fridfinnson, F, Minnesota Duluth
WCHA Second Team 	Megan Bozek, D, Minnesota
WCHA Second Team 	Rachel Davis, D, Ohio State
WCHA Second Team 	Zuzana Tomcikova, G, Bemidji State
WCHA Third Team 	Brooke Ammerman, F, Wisconsin
WCHA Third Team 	Caitlin Hogan, F, St. Cloud State
WCHA Third Team 	Montana Vicharek, D, Bemidji State
WCHA Third Team 	Stefanie McKeough, D, Wisconsin
WCHA Third Team 	Jennifer Harss, G, Minnesota Duluth
All-Freshman Team 	Hokey Langan, F, Ohio State
All-Freshman Team 	Katherine Wilson, F, Minnesota Duluth
All-Freshman Team 	Brianne Decker, F, Wisconsin
All-Freshman Team 	Megan Bozek, D, Minnesota
All-Freshman Team 	Stefanie McKeough, D, Wisconsin
All-Freshman Team 	Noora Raty, G, Minnesota
===WCHA all-academic team===
==National awards and honors==
===Patty Kazmaier Award nominees===
There are 45 nominees for the Patty Kazmaier Award. Ten of the nominees are from Western Collegiate Hockey Association-member teams.
Player 	Position 	Class 	School 	Nationality
Emmanuelle Blais 	Forward 	Senior 	Univ. of Minnesota Duluth	
Laura Fridfinnson	Forward 	Junior 	Univ. of Minnesota Duluth	
Caitlin Hogan 	Forward 	Senior 	St. Cloud State Univ. 	
Hokey Langan 	Forward 	Freshman 	Ohio State 	
Felicia Nelson 	Forward 	Senior 	St. Cloud State Univ. 	
Noora Räty 	Goalie 	Freshman 	Minnesota 	
Anne Schleper 	Defense 	Sophomore	Minnesota 	
Natalie Spooner 	Forward 	Sophomore	Ohio State 	
Zuzana Tomcikova 	Goaltender	Sophomore	Bemidji State Univ. 	
Emily West 	Forward 	Junior 	Minnesota 	
http://www.wcha.com/sports/w-hockey/spec-rel/021810aaa.html
==2010 Olympics==
===Active players===
The following active WCHA players will represent their respective countries in Ice hockey at the 2010 Winter Olympics.
Player 	NCAA school 	Nationality	Position 	Goals	Assists	Points	Medal
Elin Holmlöv 	Minnesota-Duluth	 	Forward 	 	 	 	4th Place
Haley Irwin 	Minnesota-Duluth	 	Forward 	 	 	 	Gold
Jocelyne Lamoureux 	North Dakota 	 	Forward 	 	 	 	Silver
Monique Lamoureux 	North Dakota 	 	Forward 	 	 	 	Silver
Heidi Pelttari 	Minnesota State 	 	Forward 	 	 	 	Bronze
Mariia Posa 	Minnesota State 	 	Forward 	 	 	 	Bronze
Noora Raty 	Minnesota 	 	Goaltender	 	 	 	Bronze
Nina Tikkinen http://www.wcha.com/sports/w-hockey/spec-rel/011410aaa.html	Minnesota State 	 	Forward 	 	 	 	Bronze
Zuzana Tomčíková ‎ 	Bemidji State 	 	Goaltender	 	 	 	8th
Saara Tuominenhttp://www.wcha.com/sports/w-hockey/spec-rel/011310aac.html	Minnesota Duluth	 	Forward 	 	 	 	Bronze
==References==
Category:Western Collegiate Hockey Association
WCHA
Category:College women's ice hockey seasons in the United States