Western Women's Collegiate Hockey League

The Western Women's Collegiate Hockey League (WWCHL) is an American Collegiate Hockey Association Women's Division 1 club level hockey-only college athletic conference for women's hockey teams. It is one of four ACHA Women's Division 1 conferences, along with the Central Collegiate Women's Hockey Association, Women's Midwest College Hockey, and the Eastern Collegiate Women's Hockey League. The league has a large footprint spreading across the western United States, featuring members in Arizona, Colorado and Utah.

Western Women's Collegiate Hockey League
WWCHL
Established2014
AssociationACHA
DivisionWomen's Division 1
Members6
Sports fielded
  • Ice Hockey
RegionWest
CommissionerLindsey Ellis
Websitehttps://www.wwchl.com/
Locations

Among the ten members the conference has hosted, both Minnesota (2013) and Wisconsin (2002 and 2004) won ACHA national championships prior to joining the WWCHL, while Colorado and Colorado State also have lengthy histories pre-dating the conference's creation. The rest of the league roster, however, consists of newer programs, largely in emerging hockey locales. Denver began play, as the WWCHL itself did, for the 2014–15 season. Arizona State started its program in 2016–17[1] while Grand Canyon and the University of Utah did so in 2017–18 and 2019–20, respectively.[2]

Current membership
Institution Location Nickname Founded Type Enrollment Colors Primary Facility
Arizona State University Tempe, Arizona Sun Devils 1885 Public 51,585 Maroon and Gold[3]
         		 Oceanside Ice Arena
University of Colorado Boulder, Colorado Buffaloes 1876 Public 35,528 Silver, Black and Gold[4]
              		 CU Recreation Center
Colorado State University Fort Collins, Colorado Rams 1870 Public 33,877 Green and Gold
         		 Edora Pool Ice Center
University of Denver Denver, Colorado Pioneers 1864 Private 11,614 Crimson and Gold[5]
         		 Joy Burns Ice Arena
Grand Canyon University Phoenix, Arizona Antelopes 1949 Private/Christian 20,500 Purple, Black and White[6]
              		 AZ Ice Arcadia
University of Utah Salt Lake City, Utah Utes 1850 Public 32,994 Red, Silver and Black
              		 SLC Sports Complex

Membership timeline
University of UtahGrand Canyon UniversityArizona State UniversityUniversity of Wisconsin–MadisonUniversity of MinnesotaMidland UniversityLindenwood–Belleville Lynx women's ice hockeyUniversity of DenverColorado State UniversityUniversity of Colorado Boulder

Playoff championship game results
Year Champion Score Runner-Up Location
2015Minnesota3–2 (OT)[7]Colorado StateSun Prairie, Wisconsin
2016Lindenwood–Belleville2–1ColoradoBoulder, Colorado
2017Minnesota2–1[8]ColoradoTempe, Arizona
2018Colorado5–2[9]MinnesotaFremont, Nebraska
2019Midland3–2 (2OT)[10]ColoradoLas Vegas, Nevada
2020Colorado5–1[11]Arizona StateSalt Lake City, Utah

Regular season champions
  • 2014–15 Colorado State
  • 2015–16 Lindenwood–Belleville
  • 2016–17 Lindenwood–Belleville
  • 2017–18 Colorado
  • 2018–19 Colorado
  • 2019–20 Colorado

ACHA National Tournament appearances

Appearances made while a WWCHL member.

School Appearances Years Championships
Lindenwood–Belleville32016, 2017, 2018None
Minnesota32015, 2017, 2018None
Colorado22018, 2020None
Midland12019None

World University Games selections

Since 2011, the American Collegiate Hockey Association has supplied players for the United States team at the World University Games women's hockey tournament, held biennially and as part of the multi-sport event for college and university student-athletes.

Year Location Player School Result
2015[12]Granada, SpainMolly O'NeilColorado StateFifth Place
Whitney ThomasColorado
2017[13]Almaty, KazakhstanJordan AndersonMinnesotaBronze Medal
Kathleen AshColorado
Alexandra BrownLindenwood–Belleville
Leah MacArthurColorado
Lyndsay OdenMinnesota
Becca SendenMinnesota
Livia TwohigMinnesota
2019[14]Krasnoyarsk, RussiaKathleen AshColoradoFourth Place

Notable ACHA award winners
Year Winner School Award
2014–15[15]Kelsey BrownColoradoCommunity Playmaker
2014–15Emera DanosColoradoOff-Ice MVP
2015–16Katherine HannahLindenwood–BellevilleCoach of the Year
2018–19Jason WhiteMidlandCoach of the Year
2018–19Kenzie BertolasMidlandOff-Ice MVP

See also

References
  1. Modrich, Stefan (August 16, 2015). "ASU to add women's club hockey in 2016". The State Press. Retrieved May 17, 2017.
  2. "ACHA approves Utah for Women's Division 1 team". universityofutahhockey.com. Retrieved 2019-10-24.
  3. "W.P. Carey Brand Book" (PDF). May 28, 2015. Retrieved May 3, 2017.
  4. "Typography/Color". University of Colorado Boulder. Retrieved December 31, 2016.
  5. University of Denver Brand: Visual Guide (PDF). Retrieved April 16, 2016.
  6. "Brand Standards | Media & Branding | Grand Canyon University". Grand Canyon University. Retrieved April 17, 2016.
  7. "Championship Game Result". Western Women's Collegiate Hockey League. February 22, 2015. Retrieved May 17, 2017.
  8. "Championship Game Result". Western Women's Collegiate Hockey League. February 27, 2017. Retrieved May 17, 2017.
  9. "Championship Game Result". Western Women's Collegiate Hockey League. February 25, 2018. Retrieved February 25, 2018.
  10. "Midland University - No. 12 Warriors Win WWCHL Title; Clinch Berth to Nationals". www.midlandathletics.com. Retrieved 2019-10-24.
  11. "Arizona State University vs University of Colorado: 1-5". pointstreak.com. Retrieved 2020-04-16.
  12. "2015 U.S. Women's National University Team Announced". usawomenshockey.com. Retrieved May 27, 2017.
  13. "2017 U.S. Women's National Univ. Team Unveiled". teamusa.usahockey.com. Retrieved May 27, 2017.
  14. "2019 WWUG Roster". usahockey.com. Retrieved April 16, 2020.
  15. "Past Awards". American Collegiate Hockey Association. Retrieved May 17, 2017.
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