University of St. Thomas Athletics
St. Thomas to host 2026 Kwik Trip WCHA Final Faceoff
6/5/2025 2:02:00 PM | Women's Hockey
Final Faceoff will be first postseason event hosted in Lee & Penny Anderson Arena
The Western Collegiate Hockey Association has announced that the 2026 Kwik Trip WCHA Final Faceoff will be hosted by the University of St. Thomas and held at the brand new state-of-the-art Lee & Penny Anderson Arena on March 5-7, 2026.
"We are excited for the best of the WCHA to be showcased at the brand-new state-of-the-art Lee & Penny Anderson Arena in 2026 on the University of St. Thomas campus," said WCHA Commissioner Michelle McAteer. "The staff from St. Thomas is committed to providing a first-class experience for our student-athletes and fans. The facility will soon be one of the most impressive in college hockey, and this event will help put it on the map."
The 2026 WCHA postseason begins on February 27th with four best-of-three WCHA First Round series. The four winners of the best-of-three first-round series will advance to the premier conference tournament in women's collegiate ice hockey at the 2026 Kwik Trip WCHA Final Faceoff. The winner of the 2026 Kwik Trip WCHA Final Faceoff receives the league's automatic bid into the NCAA Women's Ice Hockey Championship.
"The WCHA Final Faceoff is one of the marquee events in Division I college hockey, and we are thrilled that it will be the first postseason event hosted in Lee & Penny Anderson Arena," stated Phil Esten, Vice President, Director of Athletics. "We are committed to providing an incredible experience for everyone that steps foot on our campus, and are looking forward to welcoming the WCHA and its member institutions, alumni, and fans to experience St. Thomas and Lee & Penny Anderson Arena in a playoff atmosphere."
The annual event will be hosted by the University of St. Thomas for the first time in league history. Since that inaugural event, the tournament has been held in Rochester, Minn. (2001), Blaine, Minn. (2002), Grand Forks, N.D. (2003, 2015), Minneapolis, Minn. (2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2013, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 & 2024), Duluth, Minn. (2008, 2012, 2025) and Bemidji, Minn. (2014).
The reigning WCHA Final Faceoff Champion, Wisconsin, leads all league teams with 10 postseason titles (2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2019, 2021, 2024, 2025), followed by Minnesota with eight (2002, 2004, 2005, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2018, 2023), Minnesota Duluth with five (2000, 2001, 2003, 2008, 2010) and Ohio State with two (2020, 2022).
For more information on the Western Collegiate Hockey Association, follow the league on X and Instagram @WCHA_WHockey, and online at wcha.com.
