Rhyah Stewart, a goaltender from Antigonish, Nova Scotia, helped the University of Wisconsin Badgers win the NCAA Division I National Championship on Sunday, March 22, 2026. The Badgers secured the victory with a 3-2 win against the Ohio State Buckeyes at the Pegula Ice Arena in Pennsylvania.
This win marks the second year in a row the team has taken the top spot. It is the ninth national title for the program, which is the most of any school in women’s college hockey history according to the NCAA.
Stewart, a freshman student, finished her season with an impressive 7-2 record and a 1.79 goals against average. Her strong play earlier in the season earned her Rookie of the Month honours in February 2026 from the WCHA.
Before moving to the United States for university, Stewart played for the Cape Breton West Islanders. She also led her home province to its first-ever medal in women’s hockey at the 2023 Canada Winter Games, where the team earned a silver medal.
Hockey Nova Scotia celebrated the win, noting that the achievement is a major milestone for the local community. Senior forward Claire Enright scored the winning goal in the final game, while teammate Ava McNaughton was named the tournament’s most outstanding player after making 34 saves.
