This is the 2016-17 Western Collegiate Hockey Association Women's season. This is the league's 18th season.
In July, the conference announced that Katie Million was named a vice-president of the WCHA and Women's League Commissioner. She was previously an executive with the New Yorks State Olympic Regional Development Authority.
Membership changes[]
On March 29, 2017; the University of North Dakota announced that the school is cutting the women's ice hockey program effective the end of the 2016-17 academic year. The reason stated was a $1.3 million budget shortfall due to the school attempting to meet minimum standards of the Summit League which most of the school's athletic teams are moving to for 2017-18. The men's and women's swimming and diving programs were also cut at the school. The school announced UND will honor all athletic scholarships for the discontinued sports “at their present equivalencies for returning student-athletes."
Membership[]
Standings[]
Teams are awarded 3 points for a regulation or overtime win and 1 point for an overtime tie. If the game is tied after the five minute overtime period the game goes to a three round shootout. The shoot out winning team is awarded an extra point in the standings.
| Western Collegiate Hockey Association | Overall Record | |||||||||||||
| Team | GP | W | SW | L | T | GF | GA | Pts | GP | W | L | T | GF | GA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wisconsin Badgers | 28 | 19 | 3 | 2 | 4 | 110 | 24 | 73 | 40 | 33 | 3 | 4 | 157 | 35 |
| Minnesota Golden Gophers | 28 | 16 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 88 | 46 | 65 | 39 | 26 | 8 | 5 | 124 | 69 |
| Minnesota-Duluth Bulldogs | 28 | 18 | 1 | 5 | 4 | 82 | 47 | 62 | 37 | 25 | 7 | 5 | 110 | 62 |
| North Dakota Fighting Hawks | 28 | 8 | 3 | 12 | 5 | 62 | 57 | 41 | 38 | 16 | 16 | 6 | 84 | 73 |
| Ohio State Buckeyes | 28 | 5 | 2 | 16 | 5 | 40 | 73 | 28 | 37 | 14 | 18 | 5 | 69 | 82 |
| St. Cloud State Huskies | 28 | 5 | 2 | 18 | 3 | 43 | 82 | 26 | 36 | 9 | 23 | 4 | 61 | 113 |
| Bemidji State Beavers | 28 | 6 | 1 | 18 | 3 | 49 | 80 | 25 | 35 | 12 | 20 | 3 | 67 | 90 |
| Minnesota State Mavericks | 28 | 3 | 1 | 21 | 3 | 33 | 98 | 14 | 37 | 7 | 26 | 4 | 45 | 127 |
Conference Tournament[]
Format[]
All 8 teams qualify for the conference tournament. The quarterfinal round is held February 26th to 28th. The quarterfinals are best-of-three at the higher seeded team. The semifinals and finals known as the 2017 WCHA Final Face-Off. Thetournament champion earns the conference's automatic bid to the 2017 NCAA Division I Women's Ice Hockey Tournament.
Quarterfinals[]
- Wisconsin Badgers defeated Minnesota State Mavericks 2 games to none
- Minnesota Golden Gophers defeated Bemidji State Beavers 2 games to 1
- Minnesota-Duluth Bulldogs defeated St. Cloud State Huskies 2 games to none
- North Dakota Fighting Hawks defeated Ohio State Buckeyes 2 games to 1
Semifinals[]
- Wisconsin Badgers defeated North Dakota Fighting Hawks 2-1
- Minnesota-Duluth Bulldogs defeated Minnesota Golden Gophers 2-1 (2ot)
Final[]
- Wisconsin Badgers defeated Minnesota-Duluth Bulldogs 4-1
2017 WCHA women's champs Wisconsin Badgers