MSU to bid for women's Frozen Four

University forming committee to secure event in '08 or '09

By Shane Frederick
Free Press Staff Writer

MANKATO — With five Division I women's hockey teams in Minnesota, it's almost inevitable that the NCAA Frozen Four will return to the state of hockey soon after Minneapolis hosts the event next spring.

Minnesota State University is hoping it can lure it to Mankato.

On Tuesday, Minnesota State announced that is forming a local organizing committee to submit a bid to host the women's hockey national semifinals and championship game in 2008 or 2009.

"This might be a perfect event for us," Director of Athletics Kevin Buisman said.

Buisman said the committee will include representatives of the university, the cities of Mankato and North Mankato, the Greater Mankato Conven-tion and Visitors Bureau and the Midwest Wireless Civic Center.

"I'm extremely confident of our ability here locally to pull this thing off," Buisman said.

Buisman sent a letter of intent to the NCAA in July, and an official bid must be submitted by mid-November. The NCAA will begin reviewing proposals in February and pick sites around the time of the 2006 Frozen Four.

"We think it's a great fit for the community and a great opportunity for the Civic Center," Civic Center Executive Director Burt Lyman said.

The arena appears to be a suitably sized venue for the event. It has a little more than 4,700 seats for hockey and space for more than 5,000 with standing room.

In April, Durham, N.H., hosted the tournament and had a two-session attendance total of 4,260, including 2,204 for the championship game between Minnesota and Harvard.

In 2004, Providence, R.I., was the host city and drew a two-day total of 6,048.

The last time it was in Minnesota was 2003 when Duluth was the host city. That tournament had a two-day figure of 9,968, including a sold-out Duluth Entertainment and Convention Center crowd of 5,167 for the final. Those numbers were certainly boosted by Minnesota-Duluth playing in and eventually winning the tournament.

Minnesota State women's hockey coach Jeff Vizenor attended both of those tournaments and said Mankato has the ability to put out a winning bid.

Besides the Civic Center, he said, nearby hotels, restaurants and bars will be strong factors.

"I really think we're in an area where people appreciate hockey," Vizenor said.

Vizenor and Buisman both mentioned MSU's hosting of the NCAA Division II wrestling tournament in 2004 as proof of the school's ability to put on such an event. The university announced a two-day, four-session attendance total of 6,452 that weekend.

MSU also hosted wrestling championships in 1966 and 1968 and a men's gymnastics championship in 1970.

"But we've never brought a Division I championship to Mankato," Buisman said.

Minneapolis hosted the first women's Frozen Four in 2001. Durham also hosted it in 2002. Lake Placid, N.Y., will host in 200