Women's Ice Hockey

Slaats Cup Championship preview

The stage is set for a heavyweight rematch in the 2026 Slaats Cup Championship. For the second consecutive year, Adrian will face off against St. Norbert. After Adrian dispatched Lake Forest and St. Norbert pulled off a gritty road upset against Concordia Wisconsin in the semifinals, it will be a rematch of last year's title game, with the league's automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament on the line.

Team Highlights

No. 1 Adrian Bulldogs (23-5-0, 17-1-0 NCHA)
The Bulldogs enter the title game on a mission to reclaim the trophy tthat slipped away a year ago. Adrian’s offensive juggernaut showed no signs of slowing down in the semifinals, led by NCHA Co-Player of the Year Riley Johnson, whose point total has climbed to 51 (22G, 29A). The Bulldogs boast a depth chart that features four of the league's top five point scorers, including Courtney Ben (25 goals) and puck-moving defenseman Paige Pomerleau (22 goals). Defensively, Adrian remains stout, allowing only 1.33 goals per game this season. All-NCHA goaltender Kiera Stack enters the championship with a league-best 1.20 goals-against average, supported by a defensive unit that has held opponents to under 20 shots in 13 different contests this year. Adrian swept the regular-season series against St. Norbert (2-1 and 5-1) in late January.

No. 3 St. Norbert Green Knights (18-8-2, 12-4-2 NCHA)
The defending Slaats Cup champions have officially found their groove. After a rollercoaster regular season, the Green Knights played extremely well and knocked off No. 2 Concordia Wisconsin in a 3-2 semifinal thriller. Sophomore Tristan Wicklund, the hero of last year's championship, continues to be the team's leader alongside Grace Wittkopf (21 points). The Green Knights’ defense is anchored by All-NCHA selection Claire Healy. In goal, Tanith Plachetka has been sensational in the postseason, making 33 saves in the victory over the Falcons. St. Norbert is looking to become the first repeat champion other than Adrian dating back to the mid-2010s.

Previous Slaats Cup Matchups

This championship is a rematch of last years thriller. This will be the fourth-consecutive year that Adrian and St. Norbert will battle in the title game. Most notably, in the 2025 championship game, St. Norbert won in memorable fashion with a 3-2 overtime victory. Historically, Adrian has won eight of the last 10 Slaats Cup Championships, while St. Norbert is seeking their third title in program history. While Adrian controlled the regular season series this year, the postseason history between these two favors the team that can weather the early storm.

Keys to Victory

No. 1 Adrian Bulldogs

  • The 33.3% Advantage: Adrian’s power play is the second best in the nation at 33.3 percent. The Bulldogs have scored multiple power-play goals in seven games and at least one in 19 contests.
     
  • ?Keep Shooting: Adrian leads the NCHA with a 39.3 shots on goal average, which has led to the second-most goals in the nation (137). They must continue to make it difficult on the Green Knights defense to find openings or rebound chances.

No. 3 St. Norbert Green Knights

  • Win the Puck Drop: To win, St. Norbert must control the face-off circle. Thsi season, it has controlled 56.7 percent, which is second in the NCHA and eighth nationally. Hannah Grabianowski and Maddie Madden have combined to win 488 faceoffs this season.

  • Team Defense: The Green Knights must communicate and block shots, if they are to hoist the trophy. Adrian is a high-powered offens, with five goals or better in more than half of its games played. St. Norbert won five-consecutive games by way of a shutout (three to close the regular season and two in the quarterfinals of the Slaats Cup playoffs).