Next March, Superior will see championship hockey, an economic jump and national exposure. Joe Gigliotti reports.

UW-Superior has been chosen to host the 2013 Division Three Women’s Hockey Frozen Four, the national tournament to crown the season’s champion. UWS Athletic Director Steve Nelson says earning the host bid dates back to last summer.

“About August last year, there was a call out for possible bids on this tournament, so with our history of having three other national championships here at Wessman Arena, we just thought it was time to get another bid in.”

Wessman Arena was the site for the Men’s Championships in 1994, 2000 and 2007. This will be the first time Superior will host the women’s 4-team tournament. Nelson says hosting the event doesn’t just benefit the arena and the hockey program.

“It also benefits the campus community and the community at large. It brings dollars to this community, hosting these four teams and the fans and we’re happy to have it here.”

UWS Women’s Hockey Coach Dan Laughlin says Wessman Arena has been well maintained since its opening in 1969.

“We’ve had a lot of new boards and new Plexiglas put in. It is a great venue for a national tournament, and of course it has been in the past.”

Laughlin says while the possibility of his team advancing to the Frozen Four and having home ice advantage would be great, they’re not getting ahead of themselves.

“Of course, it would be just an absolute fantastic opportunity for us to be on our home ice, but at the same time we got a long, long way to go before we get there.”

Laughlin expects a big turnout. “I think it will be a sellout. A lot of times you got traveling teams, no matter if they’re out east or western teams, they bring a pretty good alliance out with them, and I think it will bring a lot of people from the community.”

The tournament is set for March 15 and 16.

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