When UND and Nebraska-Omaha meet outdoors at the site of baseball's College World Series next season, it won't just be a gimmick game. It will matter in the Western Collegiate Hockey Association standings.
"Maybe that's a good thing," UND coach Dave Hakstol says. "It adds to the importance of the game."
After months of speculation, the game slated for Feb. 9, 2013 at Omaha's T.D. Ameritrade Park was officially announced Tuesday in a press conference in Omaha. The date is a hockey doubleheader that also will include a matchup between the United States Hockey League's biggest rivals -- the Omaha Lancers and the Lincoln Stars.
The Lancers and Stars, who are expected to have former Grand Forks Central standouts and future Sioux players Luke Johnson and Paul LaDue on the roster, will begin at 12:30 p.m. The Sioux and Mavericks will follow.
Tickets are $30 and will go on sale Oct. 1.
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"I think it's going to be a great event," Hakstol said. "It's two good teams who are building a rivalry. It will be great exposure on a national level, on a TV level and on a local level. It should be a great spotlight for college hockey.
"Obviously, a lot of games have moved to outdoor venues and they've been good events, in general, for the hockey world. We've been open to it. Dean (Blais) and the group there brought it up as a possibility a few months ago and we thought it would be a great idea."
The teams will play a two-game series. The first game will be held in Omaha's usual home, CenturyLink Arena. Then, they will move two blocks down the road to T.D. Ameritrade, which opened last year and holds about 24,000.
College hockey has had several outdoor games, most notably one in Ann Arbor, Mich., last season that drew more than 111,000. Fenway Park, Lambeau Field and Camp Randall also have hosted outdoor games.
For the USHL, the Stars-Lancers game will be the league's first outdoors.
"With the rivalry between us and Omaha, it's definitely going to be exciting," said Johnson, who has 33 points in 34 games this season. "It should be a fun day in Omaha. I'm definitely looking forward to it."
Reach Schlossman at (701) 780-1129; (800) 477-6572, ext. 129; or send e-mail to bschlossman@gfherald.com .
