Western Collegiate Hockey Association
The Western Collegiate Hockey Association (WCHA) is a group of colleges and universities in the Midwestern United States that play NCAA Division I women's ice hockey against one another every season. The champion is automatically invited to the NCAA Division I women's hockey tournament. When the WCHA ran a men's league, the men's champion was also automatically invited to the Division I men's tournament.
Founded in 1951 as a men's hockey league, the WCHA added a women's division in the 1999–2000 season. The league would expand far beyond its traditional Midwestern base, adding teams in Alabama, Alaska, Colorado, and Indiana at different times. The WCHA shut down its men's division after the 2020–21 season when seven of its 10 members left to start a new Central Collegiate Hockey Association.[1]
Today, eight schools are members of the now women-only WCHA.
Current members
Institution | Location | Founded | Joined | Affiliation | Enrollment | Nickname | Main conference |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Bemidji State University | Bemidji, Minnesota | 1919 | 1999 (women) | Public | 5,198 | Beavers | Northern Sun (D-II) |
University of Minnesota | Minneapolis & Saint Paul, Minnesota | 1851 | 1999 (women) | 51,848 | Golden Gophers | Big Ten | |
University of Minnesota Duluth | Duluth, Minnesota | 1947 | 1999 (women) | 11,168 | Bulldogs | Northern Sun (D-II) | |
Minnesota State University, Mankato | Mankato, Minnesota | 1867 | 1999 | 14,712 | Mavericks | Northern Sun (D-II) | |
Ohio State University | Columbus, Ohio | 1870 | 1999 | 59,837 | Buckeyes | Big Ten | |
St. Cloud State University | St. Cloud, Minnesota | 1869 | 1999 (women) | 14,615 | Huskies | Northern Sun (D-II) | |
University of St. Thomas | Saint Paul, Minnesota | 1885 | 2021 | Private | 9,878 | Tommies | Summit League |
University of Wisconsin–Madison | Madison, Wisconsin | 1848 | 1999 (women) | Public | 43,820 | Badgers | Big Ten |
Former members
Final men's members
Ten schools were members of the WCHA men's league in its final season.
Other former men's members
Institution | Location | Joined | Left | Nickname | Next hockey conference |
Current hockey conference |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Colorado College | Colorado Springs, Colorado | 1951 | 2013 | Tigers | NCHC | |
University of Denver | Denver, Colorado | 1951 | 2013 | Pioneers | NCHC | |
University of Michigan | Ann Arbor, Michigan | 1951 | 1981 | Wolverines | CCHA | Big Ten |
Michigan State University | East Lansing, Michigan | 1951 | 1981 | Spartans | CCHA | Big Ten |
University of Minnesota | Minneapolis & Saint Paul, Minnesota | 1951 | 2013 | Golden Gophers | Big Ten | |
University of Minnesota Duluth | Duluth, Minnesota | 1966 | 2013 | Bulldogs | NCHC | |
University of Nebraska Omaha[a] | Omaha, Nebraska | 2010 | 2013 | Mavericks | NCHC | |
University of North Dakota | Grand Forks, North Dakota | 1951 | 2013 | Fighting Sioux[b] | NCHC | |
University of Notre Dame | Notre Dame, Indiana | 1971 | 1981 | Fighting Irish | CCHA | Big Ten |
St. Cloud State University | St. Cloud, Minnesota | 1990 | 2013 | Huskies | NCHC | |
University of Wisconsin–Madison | Madison, Wisconsin | 1969 | 2013 | Badgers | Big Ten |
Former women's member
Institution | Location | Joined | Left | Nickname | Next hockey conference |
Current hockey conference |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
University of North Dakota | Grand Forks, North Dakota | 2004 | 2017 | Fighting Hawks | Dropped women's ice hockey |
Western Collegiate Hockey Association Media
References
- ↑ Christensen, Joe (July 2, 2021). WCHA's men's hockey era officially ends after 70 years. Minneapolis. https://www.startribune.com/wcha-minnesota-state-mankato-bemidji-state/600074499/. Retrieved July 3, 2021.
- "Western Collegiate Hockey Association". wcha.cstv.com. Retrieved 2012-02-17.