As Strong As Ever

The WCHA is the toughest conference in women’s college hockey.

That statement is not debatable.

Every national champion has come from the conference. And last week five of the top nine teams in the country were from the WCHA, including Ohio State at No.9.

Now keep in mind there are only eight teams in the conference.

If the Buckeyes ever needed a reminder they play in the best conference in the country, and I don’t think they did, they sure got one this weekend.

Ohio State lost Friday 5-3 and were outscored 3-0 and outshot 19-5 in the third period.

Saturday the Buckeyes lost 4-3 after battling back to tie it after a 3-0 first period defecate.

Ohio State was swept in Columbus by a WCHA opponent.

That WCHA opponent was unranked Minnesota State, a team that most people would have picked to lose both games.

However, the Mavericks proved once again there is not a single WCHA team that can be taken lightly and that any team can win any weekend.

Playing against the best teams and players in the country every weekend causes every team to get better.

With the new 3-point standing system more points will be rewarded this year than in any other year. In other words expect a logjam in the standings.

You are always expected to beat the teams below you in the standings, but if the first month of the season has taught us anything it is to throw out the standings.

The WCHA is the best conference in the country. Twenty Conference games so far have been decided by two goals or less this season. It is a tough battle every night for the players, but for the fans it is going to be a fun ride.