Women’s Division I College Hockey: The PodKaz Episode 29 – An abrupt coaching change, a top-two split and Thomas O’Malley talks Sacred Heart’s 9-3 start

The Nov. 20, 2024, edition of USCHO.com’s PodKaz features Nicole Haase and Todd Milewski giving their thoughts on news that emerged this week at St. Thomas, where coach Joel Johnson resigned days after he wasn’t on the bench for the second game of a WCHA series at Bemidji State. No. 1 Wisconsin and No. 2 … Read more

Women’s Division I College Hockey: The PodKaz Episode 27 – A look at intriguing debuts in the Rivalry Series

USCHO.com’s Nicole Haase and Todd Milewski look back at last week’s results in NCAA women’s hockey, including a bounce back by Quinnipiac in ECAC Hockey and more questions for Clarkson and Cornell. Wisconsin, meanwhile, kept rolling along with two more shutouts. Then we take a look ahead at this week’s start of the Rivalry Series … Read more

September-October HCA women’s college hockey awards go to Wisconsin’s O’Brien, Harvey, St. Cloud State’s Kyrkkö, Sacred Heart’s Greene

The first Hockey Commissioners Association monthly awards for women’s hockey have been announced for the combined months of September and October. Wisconsin graduate forward Casey O’Brien and junior defenseman Caroline Harvey are co-players of the month, St. Cloud State freshman goalie Emila Kyrkkö is rookie of the month, and Sacred Heart senior goaltender Carly Greene … Read more

Women’s Division I College Hockey: The PodKaz Episode 26 – Brown’s Mel Ruzzi joins the show after a 4-0 start

Hosts Nicole Haase and Todd Milewski from USCHO.com welcome Brown coach Mel Ruzzi, whose team defeated Quinnipiac and Princeton last weekend to improve to 4-0. Those weren’t the only surprising results of the weekend, and Nicole and Todd discuss the key games. Plus: Some thoughts on news that the PWHL is looking to expand and … Read more

Women’s Division I College Hockey: The PodKaz Episode 25 – College Hockey Inc.’s Sadie Lundquist on the Ice Breaker Tournament

College Hockey Inc. Director of Women’s Hockey Sadie Lundquist joins USCHO.com’s Nicole Haase and Todd Milewski to talk about the 2024 Ice Breaker Tournament in Columbus, Ohio, on Friday and Saturday. Ohio State, Stonehill, Penn State and Cornell are the four teams in the fourth edition of the event. Nicole and Todd also look back … Read more

Women’s Division I College Hockey: The PodKaz Episode 23 – Thoughts on a big early weekend of nonconference games and upcoming top-4 matchups

A weekend of nonconference series between ranked teams produced a lot of splits and some memorable moments. Nicole Haase and Todd Milewski wrap it up on this week’s edition of the PodKaz, USCHO.com’s weekly look at NCAA women’s hockey. Then we look ahead at series that match the top four teams in the USCHO.com rankings: … Read more

Women’s Division I College Hockey: The PodKaz Episode 22 – Reflections on early results and a conversation with WCHA commissioner Michelle McAteer

Nicole Haase and Todd Milewski welcome new WCHA commissioner Michelle McAteer to talk about taking over the women’s hockey conference during a time of change in college sports. Plus, we look back at results from the first two weeks of the season and look ahead to an upcoming weekend full of East-West matchups. The PodKaz is … Read more

Women’s Division I College Hockey: The PodKaz Episode 21 – Season 2 premiere previews all 44 teams

USCHO’s Nicole Haase (@nicolehaase) and Todd Milewski (@ToddMilewski) are back to launch Season 2 of the PodKaz with a few quick items on all 44 teams before the 2024-25 season begins. Penn State, Colgate, UConn, Long Island and Ohio State are looking to defend conference regular-season championships, and the Buckeyes are going for their third … Read more

Wisconsin takes No. 1 spot in 2024-25 WCHA preseason women’s hockey poll, Badgers’ Simms chosen preseason player of the year

2024-25 WCHA Coaches Poll (Coaches could not vote for their own team. First-place votes are in parentheses) 1. Wisconsin (5) 46 points 2. Ohio State (2) 43 3. Minnesota (1) 40 4. Minnesota Duluth 31 5. St. Cloud State 25 6. St. Thomas 17 7. Minnesota State 15 8. Bemidji State 7 WCHA Preseason Player … Read more

Women’s Division I College Hockey: 2024-25 roster updates

The Division I women’s hockey season is just around the corner. It was another busy offseason with a lot of movement through the transfer portal as well as coaching changes. Most every team in the country has experienced changes on their roster beyond graduation and incoming freshman classes. There are also a number of fifth … Read more

Former Minnesota State, Northern Michigan staffer, St. Thomas grad Synstegaard named CCHA, WCHA assistant commissioner of operations

The CCHA and WCHA announced today the hiring of Byron Synstegaard as assistant commissioner of operations. He joins the respective conference offices bringing six years of administrative experience in sport and event operations. “To borrow a hockey term, Byron’s hiring puts our staffing plan back at ‘full strength’ in the WCHA and CCHA,” said Minnesota … Read more

Longtime Augsburg women’s hockey coach, ‘pillar of strength’ McAteer named new commissioner of WCHA

The WCHA has announced that Michelle McAteer is the conference’s new commissioner. McAteer, who replaces Tracy Dill, joins the WCHA from Augsburg, where she served as the women’s hockey head coach for the past 14 seasons. “I am thrilled and honored to be the next commissioner of the WCHA,” said McAteer in a statement. “I … Read more

CCHA assistant commissioner, former WCHA associate commissioner Thibodeau leaves post, takes junior hockey role as SIJHL commissioner

The Superior International Junior Hockey League has announced the hiring of its new commissioner, Dean Thibodeau. Thibodeau joins the league following his time as the assistant commissioner of the CCHA and the associate commissioner of hockey operations with the WCHA. “I appreciated the opportunity to continue my personal and professional growth with the new league … Read more