GOLDEN GOPHERS TO HOST NCAA WOMENıS COLLEGIATE ICE HOCKEY CHAMPIONSHIP
The NCAA Womenıs Ice Hockey Committee has selected Mariucci Arena as the
site of the first NCAA Womenıs Collegiate Ice Hockey Championship, to be
hosted by the University of Minnesota Womenıs Athletics Department. The
selection was approved by the Womenıs Ice Hockey Championship/Competition
Cabinet, which met over the weekend.
"The University of Minnesota has demonstrated an extraordinary
commitment to womenıs ice hockey in its short history, and the sport also
has tremendous support from the Minneapolis community," said Carolyn
Campbell-McGovern, chair of the committee and the senior associate director
of the Ivy League. "The Minnesota Womenıs Athletics Department staff is very
experienced in hosting NCAA championships and the committee is confident
that they will put on an outstanding event."
This yearıs championship, March 23 and 25, will feature four teams. The
top-ranked team in the east and the top-ranked team in the west will receive
automatic tournament berths. The remaining two teams will be at-large
selections.
The Womenıs Frozen Four will be theNCAA Volleyball Championship set a
single-match championship attendance record of 9,107 at Williams Arena. The
University has also hosted the 1992 NCAA Gymnastics Championships at
Williams Arena, the 1995 NCAA Basketball Final Four at the Target Center,
and the 1993 and 1998 NCAA Swimming and Diving Championships at the
University Aquatic Center.
"We are thrilled to be selected to host the NCAAıs first Womenıs Ice
Hockey Championship," Minnesota Womenıs Athletics Director Chris Voelz said.
"Our fabled history of hosting five standard-bearing national championships
over the last 12 years has given the NCAA great confidence in our department
and community to host this inaugural national championship in the right
way."
Mariucci Arena was the site of the 1999 American Womenıs College Hockey
Alliance National Championship. The tournament drew an audience of 4,954,
including 2,507 for the championship game. Both figures were the top marks
in the AWCHA Championship's three-year history. Last year, the Gophers
defeated Brown, 4-2, to claim the AWCHA title at Northeasternıs Matthews
Arena in Boston, Mass.
Minnesota also holds the womenıs college ice hockey record for
single-game attendance, with a crowd of 6,854 at its inaugural game, Nov. 2,
1997.
Fact Sheet
o The 2001 NCAA Women's Collegiate Ice Hockey Championship will be the
first NCAA championship in the sport of ice hockey for women.
o The 2001 championship is open to teams from all three NCAA divisions.
o 61 NCAA member schools sponsor varsity womenıs ice hockey. By division,
that number breaks down to 28 Division I, one Division II and 32 Division
III.
o The 2001 Women's Frozen Four will be the sixth NCAA championship event
hosted by the Women's Athletics Department at the University of Minnesota.
o The first championship hosted by Minnesota, the 1988 NCAA Volleyball
Championship, set a championship match record for attendance (9,107) at
Williams Arena.
o The 1993 NCAA Swimming and Diving Championships at the University
Aquatic Center had the second-largest crowd in history at that time (6,487).
o The 1995 Women's Basketball Final Four saw the second-largest crowd at
that time at the championship game at the Target Center (18,038).
o Minnesota has also hosted NCAA Championships in gymnastics (1992) and
swimming and diving (1998).
o The American Women's College Hockey Alliance National Championship had
its two largest crowds ever for the semifinals (2,447) and finals (2,507) at
the 1999 tournament at Mariucci Arena.
o Minnesota has led the nation in womenıs hockey attendance in each of
its three years of varsity competition.
o Minnesota qualified for each of the three AWCHA National Championships,
winning in 2000 after placing third in 1999 and fourth in 1998.
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Craig Roberts
Asst. Media Relations Director
University of Minnesota Women's Intercollegiate Athletics
Phone: (612) 624-0522 Fax: (612) 624-8018
For the latest in Gopher Sports News visit www.gophersports.com
Or call the Diet Coke Gopher Sports Hotline at (612) 624-STAT
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