University of Minnesota Athletics
Gophers to Host Inaugural Minnesota Cup
8/30/2018 3:44:00 PM | Women's Hockey
Minnesota's 2018-19 schedule includes the first-ever Minnesota Cup at Ridder Arena in January 2019.
MINNEAPOLIS – The University of Minnesota women's hockey team is set to host the inaugural Minnesota Cup this season. The WCHA proudly introduced the new tournament as part of its 20th anniversary season in 2018-19. The Minnesota Cup will be played at Ridder Arena on Saturday, January 5 and Sunday, January 6, and tickets to the two-day, four-team event are on sale now.
The 2019 Minnesota Cup features Minnesota Duluth, Minnesota State, St. Cloud State, and the Gophers. Tickets may be purchased through the Gopher Sales & Service Department, in-person at 3M Arena at Mariucci (during regular office hours of 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. CT, Monday-Friday), via phone at 612-624-8080 (Option 2), or online at MyGopherSports.com. Certain fees may apply.
The 2019 Minnesota Cup opens with a pair of semifinal games Saturday, Jan. 5, beginning at 1:07 p.m. CT when Minnesota State faces St. Cloud State. The Saturday nightcap pits Minnesota against Minnesota Duluth at 4:07 p.m. CT. Regardless of Saturday's outcomes, Minnesota Duluth will play the 1:07 p.m. CT game and the Gophers will play the 4:07 p.m. CT game on Sunday, Jan. 6; the match-ups will be determined by Saturday's semifinal results with the semifinal winners facing off for the Minnesota Cup championship.
"The inaugural Minnesota Cup launches what we believe will quickly become a fun and exciting, in-season tournament tradition for the WCHA and our Minnesota-based member institutions," said WCHA Vice President and Women's League Commissioner Katie Million. "What better way to return from the holiday break and get the second half rolling than with the opportunity to win a trophy, especially among your in-state peers? We thank the University of Minnesota for hosting the 2019 event and look forward to being at Ridder Arena in January!"
"We're looking forward to hosting the inaugural Minnesota Cup at Ridder Arena in January," University of Minnesota head coach Brad Frost said. "The tournament format allows us to play for a trophy to start off the second half of the season, and it's a great opportunity to celebrate the WCHA's in-state rivalries in the state of Minnesota."
As currently scheduled, future Minnesota Cup hosts include: Minnesota Duluth (2020), Minnesota State (2021), St. Cloud State (2022) and Bemidji State (2023), with the WCHA's five Minnesota-based member schools rotating in participation each season.
About Ridder Arena
The first-ever facility built specifically for women's hockey in the country, Ridder Arena is home to the seven-time national champion University of Minnesota Golden Gopher Women's Hockey Program. Since its opening in 2002, Ridder Arena has been a regular host of WCHA Championships (2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2013, 2016, 2017 and 2018), NCAA Regionals and Frozen Fours (2010, 2013, 2015 and 2018).
About the Western Collegiate Hockey Association (WCHA)
The Women's League of the Western Collegiate Hockey Association is celebrating 20 Years of Excellence during 2018-19 anniversary season. The nation's premier women's hockey conference, WCHA member institutions have won a record 16 national championships since the league's inception in 1999 (including 15 of a possible 18 NCAA titles), while producing seven Patty Kazmaier Award winners, 98 All-Americans and numerous Olympic and national team members. The seven-team, NCAA Division 1 conference consists of: Bemidji State University (Beavers), the University of Minnesota (Golden Gophers), the University of Minnesota Duluth (Bulldogs), Minnesota State University (Mavericks), Ohio State University (Buckeyes), St. Cloud State University (Huskies) and the University of Wisconsin (Badgers). For more information, visit www.wcha.com.
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