AMSOIL Arena Will Bid for 2015, 2016 NCAAs

If I am reading this article right, then the Ralph Engelstad Arena should be able to apply for a regional Championship. Right? I don't see a difference.

Zach Schneider, Northland's Newscenter --- The rink previously submitted a bid in 2010 to host a 2013 regional, but officials said that was eventually rejected because of the NCAA's preference to use neutral sites.

Now, AMOSIL Arena officials say they were told the NCAA has dropped that preference and will exert no bias against arenas that are home to an NCAA Division I men's hockey team.

AMSOIL Arena has played host to the NCAA Division I Frozen Four and Western Collegiate Hockey Association (WCHA) Final Face Off on the women's side, but it has never been selected to host a major men's tournament.

The arena will prepare its bid over the next couple of months, officials said, before submitting it to the NCAA for review.

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• Kansas City wants to become an NCAA championship destination (kansascity.com)

NCAA Hockey 2013 regional sites announced

Here is the official release for the 2013 NCAA Hockey regional sites.

NCAA.com ---- he NCAA Division I Men’s Ice Hockey Committee has selected the four regional sites for the 2013 Division I Men’s Ice Hockey Championship.

The four sites and regionals, being held between March 29-31, include: East Regional in Providence, R.I.; Northeast Regional in Manchester, N.H.; Midwest Regional in Toledo, Ohio; and the West Regional in Grand Rapids, Mich.

Brown will serve as hosts for the East Regional and New Hampshire will host the Northeast Regional. Bowling Green will host the Midwest Regional and Michigan will host the West Regional.

“The committee has placed an emphasis in the regional rounds on neutral-site buildings with NHL-size ice surfaces,” said Sean Frazier, chair of the NCAA Division I Men’s Ice Hockey Committee and associate athletic director at Wisconsin. “All of these facilities meet those standards, and we feel the arenas and hosts will be able to provide a tremendous championship opportunity for the student-athletes.”

The 2013 Men’s Frozen Four will be held in Pittsburgh, Pa., at the Consol Energy Center, April 11 and 13. The 2012 championship will be held at the St. Pete Times Forum in Tampa, Fla., April 5 and 7.