The Western Collegiate Club Hockey Association (WCCHA) is a conference of men's club ice hockey teams from the American Collegiate Hockey Association (ACHA) competing at the Division II level. The participating teams come from colleges and universities in the Upper Midwest, including North Dakota, Minnesota and Wisconsin. Teams in the WCCHA are primarily student-run sports clubs with limited University funding, requiring significant player dues and fundraising for team operation.
The current 12 members are split between two geographic divisions, the Northwest and the Southeast. Within the division, each team plays each other twice, with two further interdivision series played. The top three finishers in each division qualify for the WCCHA Tournament. The remaining two teams to qualify (8 total) do so via league-only KRACH Rankings, which include all games between WCCHA opponents (divisional and interdivisional).
Since the 2016-2017 season, the winner of the Carla Berg Cup Championship earns the automatic bid to the ACHA D2 Central Regional Tournament.
Video Western Collegiate Club Hockey Association
Teams
Maps Western Collegiate Club Hockey Association
Past member teams
- Michigan Technological University (2003-11)
- Northern Michigan University (2011-14)
- St. Olaf College (2007-10)
- Waldorf College (2012-14)
- Winona State University (2016-17)
History
The Western Collegiate Club Hockey Association was formed in March 2003 at the initial league meeting at Coffman Memorial Union on the campus of the Minnesota-Minneapolis. The five original members were Michigan Tech, Minnesota, Minnesota-Duluth, Minnesota State and St. Cloud State.
From 2004-2009, the WCCHA Tournament was held at the Herb Brooks National Hockey Center in St. Cloud, Minnesota, home of the St. Cloud State University Huskies. In 2010, the tournament moved to the neutral venue Schwan Super Rink. in 2014, the tournament moved for one year to the Coon Rapids Ice Center. Since 2015, the tournament has been held at the Schwan Super Rink.
From its inception, the WCCHA regular season included a full, single table schedule with every member playing each other twice. Following the growth of the league to 12 teams in 2017, the league introduced a new format, placing teams into two-6 team divisions based on geography.
Past Champions
WCCHA at Regionals
Since regional play began, the WCCHA has been represented at the Central Regional Tournament eleven times. Regional winners move on to play in the ACHA National Tournament.
2006-07: Minnesota State becomes the first conference team to qualify.
2007-08: St. Thomas qualified.
2008-09: St. Thomas lost in the Regional Final.
2009-10: St. Thomas qualified.
2010-11: St. Cloud State qualified.
2011-12: St. Cloud State qualified.
2012-13: Northern Michigan faced Michigan State, losing 1-0 in Overtime. Michigan State would go on to become the Division II National Champion.
2013-14: Waldorf College faced Illinois State, losing 8-1.
2015-16: #12 North Dakota faced #9 Michigan State, losing 4-2.
2016-17: #12 Minnesota State faced #9 Michigan, losing 5-4 in Overtime.
2017-18: #10 Minnesota faced #11 Michigan, winning 6-3. Minnesota then faced #4 Lindenwood, losing 3-2 in double overtime.
References
External links
- WCCHA website
- Minnesota Club Hockey
- Minnesota State Club Hockey
- St. Cloud State Club Hockey
- St. Thomas Club Hockey
- Wisconsin Badgers Club Hockey
- UW-Eau Claire Club Hockey
- ACHA website
Source of article : Wikipedia
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