Around the W: WCHA goes 12-0, and Stewart answers Wisconsin's question

The WCHA played six teams on opening weekend and didn't lose a game. That's the headline, and it's also a warning: the road to the women's Frozen Four still runs through Madison, Duluth, Columbus and, apparently, St. Cloud.

Six of the league's eight teams went a combined 12-0 and outscored their opponents 49-15, and Minnesota and Bemidji State haven't even played yet. Here's what mattered.

Stewart answers the question

Wisconsin swept St. Lawrence in Canton, 6-2 and 6-0, and Rhyah Stewart stopped all 15 shots on Saturday for her first career shutout. I said yesterday that the three-peat had become a goalie question. One weekend doesn't close that file, but she didn't give anybody a reason to reopen it.

The skaters did their part too. Kelly Gorbatenko had four goals and a career-best five points on the weekend, and Rosalie Tremblay scored the first NCAA goal by any of the Badgers' eight freshmen.

The W read: St. Lawrence only got 15 shots on Saturday, so the real test is Thursday, when Boston University comes to LaBahn and the 2026 banner goes up.

St. Cloud State didn't read the preseason poll

UConn opened at No. 7, the highest preseason ranking in program history. St. Cloud State was picked sixth in the WCHA after going 12-23-2. The Huskies from Minnesota beat the Huskies from Connecticut 4-2 on Friday and again by the identical score on Saturday, with senior captain Alice Sauriol leading the way.

The W read: This is the upset of the young season, and it's no fluke if you do it twice. St. Cloud belongs in the poll this week.

Gascon picks up where she left off

No. 9 Minnesota Duluth shut out No. 15 Mercyhurst twice, 2-0 and 4-0. Eve Gascon made 18 saves in the opener, and the second shutout tied her with the program's career record. Caitlin Kraemer scored twice, and Friday's win was the 600th in program history.

The W read: Gascon is the reigning WCHA goaltender of the year, and she'll own that record outright soon. The worry is the other end, because six goals in two nights won't be enough when Ohio State and Wisconsin come around.

Ohio State wins the top-five series

No. 2 Ohio State swept No. 4 Penn State in State College, 2-1 in overtime on Thursday and 2-1 again on Friday. Hilda Svensson scored on the power play and Rylee Bartz got the winner in game two. Rowan Houweling made her debut in net.

The W read: Two one-goal wins over a top-five team in their building is exactly how the Buckeyes win in March. It isn't pretty, and in a league this deep it doesn't need to be.

Clarkson turns the lights on

No. 12 Clarkson beat RIT 6-3 and 8-1. Raedyn Spademan and Jessie Pellerin each had a hat trick on Saturday, and five of the eight goals came in the third period.

The W read: RIT isn't the measuring stick, but a two-hat-trick night tells you the Golden Knights have more than one dependable scorer, and that matters in a conference as tight as the ECAC.

Around the East

Quinnipiac swept Maine 2-1 and 4-1, spoiling the new coach's home debut. Providence took two from Sacred Heart. St. Thomas beat New Hampshire twice, 7-2 and 3-1, which is one more reason the WCHA's number looks the way it does.

My call: Wisconsin and Ohio State are still the top two, but St. Cloud State is the team nobody will want to see in January. The league that already had the best teams now has the best upset, too.