First-half surprises, question time and reflecting on the Rivalry Series

On this episode of the PodKaz, USCHO.com’s weekly look at NCAA women’s hockey, hosts Nicole Haase and Todd Milewski wrap up the first half of the 2025-26 season with a look at some of the teams that surprised, both positively and negatively.Northeastern and Princeton are both in the top 10 of the USCHO.com rankings after being lower in the preseason poll. Colgate, however, started at No. 5 and is heading to Christmas at No. 14.Then we check out the conference leaders compared to preseason predictions, and the biggest change is in NEWHA.We finish the first segment with a look at players to watch in the second half of the season for the Patty Kazmaier Award chase.The mailbag comes out for the second segment. Nicole and Todd respond to four listener questions.And we wrap things up with a look back at the final two games of the Rivalry Series, where the U.S. wrapped up a four-game sweep of Canada.The PodKaz is a production of USCHO.com. Have a question for us? Reach out to Nicole (@NicoleHaase) or Todd (@ToddMilewski) on social media or email [email protected].