The NCHC announced Monday that its postseason tournament will be held at the Target Center in Minneapolis starting in 2014 as the conference has signed a five-year agreement with the rink.
The winners of the conference quarterfinals, which will be played on the home ice of the top four regular-season finishers in the league, will qualify to come to Minneapolis. The CBS Sports Network will televise the two semifinal games and the championship game. A third-place game will also be played.
“The athletic directors and coaches of our member institutions are pleased that we will present our men’s ice hockey championship at a first-class venue in one of the nation’s best markets for college ice hockey,” said NCHC commissioner Jim Scherr in a news release. “It is our goal to become an outstanding college ice hockey conference in every way and this announcement is in keeping with that goal.”
“Target Center and Minneapolis have a solid reputation for making teams and fans feel welcome,” added Minnesota-Duluth coach Scott Sandelin. “Our conference’s players, coaches and loyal fans will have a great home for our tournament in a city with a great history of supporting college ice hockey.”
The 21-year-old Target Center previously hosted the WCHA postseason tournament prior to the Xcel Energy Center.
