The conclusion of the regular seasons for both Hockey East and the WCHA this past weekend marks the commencement of full-fledged conference tournaments in all five NCAA Division I women’s hockey conferences. A comprehensive overview of each league is presented below.
CHA
Penn State has once again emerged as the Regular Season Champion for the second consecutive year. Their quest for an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament has led to a pivotal showdown between No. 1 seed Penn State and No. 2 seed Mercyhurst in the CHA title game. The stakes are notably high for both teams, with standout performances by Katie DeSa of the Nittany Lions and Vanessa Upson of Mercyhurst in the semifinal series.
ECAC Hockey
Colgate’s securing of the Regular Season Champion title has laid the groundwork for an upcoming best-of-three quarterfinal series, promising compelling matchups as eight teams vie for victory.
Hockey East
UConn has made history by clinching their first-ever Regular Season Champion title, a momentous victory that paves the way for their upcoming matches in the Hockey East tournament. The tournament commenced with Boston University and Maine hosting opening-round games, setting the stage for the Quarterfinal matchups.
NEWHA
Long Island has emerged as the Regular Season Champion for the second consecutive year. The upcoming NEWHA semifinal matchups will see top-seeded Long Island take on Franklin Pierce, while second-seeded Saint Anselm faces off against third-seeded Stonehill.
WCHA
Ohio State has once again secured the Regular Season Champion title, setting the stage for the upcoming best-of-three first-round series featuring the top eight teams, leading to the 2024 Kwik Trip WCHA Final Faceoff at Ridder Arena in Minneapolis.
The palpable excitement in the women’s college hockey landscape is unmistakable as the conference tournaments build momentum towards the NCAA Tournament. Noteworthy on-ice performances by players have been observed, with scoring champions crowned in different conferences and individual players reaching remarkable milestones.
Furthermore, significant milestones have been achieved by individual players, such as Elle Hartje of Yale breaking a longstanding career scoring record, and other forwards reaching the 100 career points milestone during last weekend’s semifinals.
These achievements underscore the talent and dedication that these athletes bring to the ice, drawing attention to the growing popularity and competitive nature of women’s college hockey.
The season has also witnessed several notable performances, including records being set in terms of saves and points, highlighting the skill and determination of the players, further elevating the status of women’s hockey in the college sports landscape.
As teams and individuals strive to make their mark and etch their names in the annals of women’s college hockey history, the road to the NCAA Tournament is filled with anticipation and exhilaration. The resounding success and impact of the women’s college hockey tournaments are a testament to the remarkable talent and dedication of the athletes, setting the stage for an enthralling culmination in the NCAA Tournament.