WCHA 2025-26

[robertearle]

As long as I've gone into the business of starting new threads ...

Start with this rather eye-opening stat:

Wisconsin returns more 'goals scored' from last season - 186 - than any other team's total scored during the 24-25 season. Ohio State scored 155, Minnesota 153.

 

[Ditra]

So the end results will be that 2025-26 will be a repeat of 2024-25? Maybe Gophers and OSU flip spots?

 

[Timothy A]

According to the Hockey News, here are their "Fr to watch" from the wcha out of their top 20.

1. Sapovalivova UW
4. Svensson TWSNBN
5. Plosova UM
6. Vanhanen TWSNBN
7. Raunio TWSNBN
8. Stewart UW
9. Cimoroni TWSNBN
12. Fanale UM
17. D'Alessandro

I would not agree that Stewart is a player to watch. I doubt she's going to see much playing time with McNaughton backstopping back to back NCAA finals appearances.

 

[FiveHoleFrenzy]

I mean, does anyone see any losses for the sinners this year looking at their schedule?

 

[Timothy A]

I mean, does anyone see any losses for the sinners this year looking at their schedule?

Don't worry, your perfect season will not be matched by anybody this season, or probably ever actually. Of course Wisconsin's going to lose a few games. They had a few titanic come from behind wins last season, but perhaps this team won't have the same intestinal fortitude of that team.

 

[Windchill22]

According to the Hockey News, here are their "Fr to watch" from the wcha out of their top 20.

1. Sapovalivova UW
4. Svensson TWSNBN
5. Plosova UM
6. Vanhanen TWSNBN
7. Raunio TWSNBN
8. Stewart UW
9. Cimoroni TWSNBN
12. Fanale UM
17. D'Alessandro

I would not agree that Stewart is a player to watch. I doubt she's going to see much playing time with McNaughton backstopping back to back NCAA finals appearances.

I think Stewart sees more ice than you're projecting - With the Olympics - MJ will want to get her some ice before that - and just to give McNaughton some rest this season - McNaughton will be primary - but a big win on Friday probably sees Stewart in net on Saturday.

 

[Timothy A]

I think Stewart sees more ice than you're projecting - With the Olympics - MJ will want to get her some ice before that - and just to give McNaughton some rest this season - McNaughton will be primary - but a big win on Friday probably sees Stewart in net on Saturday.

I'd like to see a bit of that, but I think it will be out of character for MJ to do so. Other than the Gervais and Kronish season, he rides the primary. They only play 2 games a week and Ava is a well seasoned veteran now. Stewart could be the best back-up since ARD and ARD only played when Rigsby was injured.

 

[Timothy A]

In league games, they are allowing you to deflect the puck into the net from any height as an experiment for this season. I like it. It will increase the goals per game by .000001. It's one less thing for the ref's to screw up, so there's that.

 

[Timothy A]

Pre-season WCHA rankings

1. Wisconsin (7) 49
T2. Minnesota (1) 40
T2. Ohio State 40
4. Minnesota Duluth 31
5. St. Cloud State 24
6. St. Thomas 17
7. Minnesota State 16
8. Bemidji State 7

*First-place votes are in parentheses (Coaches could not vote for their own team)

WCHA Preseason Player of the Year: Caroline Harvey, Sr., D, Wisconsin
Others receiving votes: Abbey Murphy, Minnesota

WCHA Preseason Rookie of the Year: Adéla Šapovalivová, F, Wisconsin
Others receiving votes: Bella Fanale, F, Minnesota; Layla Hemp, G, Minnesota; Jenna Raunio, D, Ohio State; Hilda Svensson, F, Ohio State.

Preseason All-WCHA Team
F: Abbey Murphy, R-Sr., Minnesota
F: Kirsten Simms, Sr., Wisconsin
F: Joy Dunne, Jr., Ohio State
D: Emma Peschel, Sr., Ohio State
D: Caroline Harvey, Sr., Wisconsin
G: Ève Gascon, Jr., Minnesota Duluth

 

[Timothy A]

MJ voted for Little Ms. Sassy Pants. I guess that is better than feeding the beast to the east.

I really get tired of McNaughton ending up behind Gascon in these rankings.

 

[robertearle]

Laila Edwards led the nation in goals scored (while also spending some time playing D) ...

Just sayin...

 

[Timothy A]

Laila Edwards led the nation in goals scored (while also spending some time playing D) ...

Just sayin...

Yeah she had more points in less games at forward than little ms sassy pants did.

 

[Ditra]

MJ voted for Little Ms. Sassy Pants. I guess that is better than feeding the beast to the east.

I really get tired of McNaughton ending up behind Gascon in these rankings.

Might have something to do with the 80+ extra saves in nine less games. I think McNaughton gets marked down due to the cast around her. Duluth just doesn't have the same caliber of players. I don't think any of these pre-season accolades mean anything to the players.

 

[Timothy A]

Might have something to do with the 80+ extra saves in nine less games. I think McNaughton gets marked down due to the cast around her. Duluth just doesn't have the same caliber of players. I don't think any of these pre-season accolades mean anything to the players.

Yeah, I agree. It probably means nothing to the players, but it means a lot to us rabid fans. Or me anyway LOL.

 

[ARM]

In league games, they are allowing you to deflect the puck into the net from any height as an experiment for this season.

Does that mean that players are allowed to play the puck with the stick above the shoulders/crossbar at any time, or only on deflections toward the net? E.g., if a defender uses her stick to knock a high clearance out of the air and then recovers the puck, is that a whistle as it has been, or is it now a play on?

 

[Ditra]

Yeah, I agree. It probably means nothing to the players, but it means a lot to us rabid fans. Or me anyway LOL.

Yeah I get it. The OSU folks are saying they got dissed by being rated second on there FB site so everyone thinks their players are the best.

 

[Timothy A]

Yeah I get it. The OSU folks are saying they got dissed by being rated second on there FB site so everyone thinks their players are the best.

Yeah, but ours are.

 

[Timothy A]

WCHA media day. Muzzy says her players have "a vendetta" against the BADgers. Vendetta is a very strong word: Having a vendetta means pursuing a persistent and often violent feud or campaign of revenge against a person or group due to a past injustice, insult, or deep-seated animosity. It involves a sustained effort to harm or punish the target over a long period, driven by hostility and a desire for retribution.

I think the vendetta should be against the ref's who supposedly screwed them over twice at the end of the game. UW simply made the plays when they had the chance. Or it could be that their grasp of the English language is shaky. Could be considering where they are going to school. I know MJ wouldn't preach a vendetta, he'd simply point out what UW should have done differently in those situations and hope the players learn from it.

 

[Windchill22]

WCHA media day. Muzzy says her players have "a vendetta" against the BADgers. Vendetta is a very strong word: Having a vendetta means pursuing a persistent and often violent feud or campaign of revenge against a person or group due to a past injustice, insult, or deep-seated animosity. It involves a sustained effort to harm or punish the target over a long period, driven by hostility and a desire for retribution.

I think the vendetta should be against the ref's who supposedly screwed them over twice at the end of the game. UW simply made the plays when they had the chance. Or it could be that their grasp of the English language is shaky. Could be considering where they are going to school. I know MJ wouldn't preach a vendetta, he'd simply point out what UW should have done differently in those situations and hope the players learn from it.

I wouldn’t go so far as to say that having a “chip on our shoulder” is the only way Muzzy knows how to coach—but I would say it’s her preferred method. I believe she manufactures or exacerbates situations to motivate her players. Good on her, I guess. Win a championship? Suddenly it’s, “Nobody thinks we can do it again.”

Being perpetual underdogs is hard to sustain once you become successful, so you grab onto whatever you can—in this case, a “vendetta.” And who better than the BADgers? Why? Because it fits her methodology and proven past tactics.

 

[Timothy A]

TWSNBN are also picked to be 3rd in the league this year, so that gives her the under-dog card to play as well. If I were a top end player, do I want to be told continuously that I signed with an underdog? I don't think her style would translate well at the pro-level. I think he style would flame out after 2-3 years.