No. 5 UMD returns to Ridder for Regional Final rematch with No. 1 Gophers
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This weekend the University of Minnesota Duluth (UMD) women’s hockey team returns to Ridder Arena in Minneapolis for a NCAA Regional Final rematch with now number one ranked Minnesota.
“I think regardless of what happened last spring you know you’re going into a visitor’s rink and a really good team, two good teams, so it’s going to be a battle,” UMD head coach Maura Crowell said.
Bulldog graduate forward Gabbie Hughes said she loves playing the Gophers. It makes sense since they’re a team she’s put up 19 points, 11 goals and nine assists, against in 18 career games.
Plus, their last meeting at Ridder in March, she scored the game-winning goal downing the Gophers 2-1 to send UMD into the NCAA Frozen Four.
“I would say I get just as excited to play anybody but I definitely feel a little bit more driven when we play at Ridder just because my whole entire family gets to come,” Hughes shared. “I don’t get to see a part of my family a whole lot throughout the year. I feel like I have my own little section there of Hughes members.”
Gabbie Hughes leads the faceoff for UMD women's hockey in round one of the 2022 NCAA tournament against Harvard at Ridder Arena in March 2022.
The No. 5 Bulldogs and No. 1 Gophers drop the puck Friday at 6 p.m. and Saturday at 2 p.m. in Minneapolis.