No, we're not tired of the two-year-old Mariucci yet, but it's not a joke either. The rink would serve as home ice for (drum roll, please) the University of Minnesota WOMEN's hockey team. I'll quote bits of the Minnesota Daily article, but I've left off the comments of the legislators. Let's just say, they were none too happy about the Timberwolves arena buy-out last time round, so I wouldn't want to place any bets on this one. -Pam Headline: Jets deal may bring U rink Publish Date: 05/10/1995 Kevin Gerard Moe Staff Reporter State lawmakers may give the University roughly $2.5 million as part of an attempt to lure the Winnipeg Jets hockey team to Minnesota. The University would use the money to build a new ice arena for Jets practice and to house a women's hockey team. (snip) The University expects to transform women's hockey, now a club sport, into a varsity team within the next five years. Mark Dienhart, senior associate men's athletics director, said he didn't have details on the latest plan but that a new ice arena may be valuable in the future. ``Clearly, if we were going to have women's varsity (hockey) in the future, there would be a real crunch on ice time,'' he said. The Jets would use the University rink for practice but play games at Target Center. (end quote)