The Western Collegiate Hockey Association regular season championship trophy is heading back to Minneapolis.

For the first time since the 2014-15 season, and for the 10th time in program history, the Gophers are WCHA regular season champions. No. 2 Minnesota (29-4-1, 19-4-1-0) defeated Bemidji State (13-19-2, 10-12-2-0) 6-3 on Friday and 4-3 on Saturday at Sanford Center in Bemidji, Minnesota. 

To win the trophy, the Gophers needed victories in both games against Bemidji State and needed Ohio State to keep rival Wisconsin from winning. That scenario came to be. The No. 1 Badgers tied with No. 10 Ohio State 2-2 on Saturday to secure Minnesota’s title.

Goaltender Sydney Scobee made 25 saves on Saturday and won her 11th game of the season. Right winger Grace Zumwinkle, left winger Emily Oden, center Taylor Heise and right winger Amy Potomak scored for Minnesota.

Head coach Brad Frost said the Gophers were up to the challenge against the Beavers.

“[The Beavers] are tough to play against,” Frost said. “For us to score 10 on the weekend was beneficial.”

After the game, the Gophers’ eyes were on Scobee’s phone, which was streaming the game between the Buckeyes and the Badgers at LaBahn Arena in Madison, Wisconsin. When neither team could score in overtime, the Gophers erupted in cheers and hugged one another.