Hockey powers gather for Showcase

The Gophers and Minnesota State Mankato made hockey history in March, playing three overtime games in their first-round WCHA playoff series. That has happened only once before, 16 years ago.

This weekend those two teams will resume their rivalry and be part of another history-making event.

Tonight they meet at Mariucci Arena. But on Saturday, instead of playing in Mankato as originally scheduled, the Gophers and Mavericks will play in the inaugural WCHA Minnesota Hockey Showcase at the Xcel Energy Center.

What's that? It's an event that's been discussed for years and years in WCHA circles. It is loosely based on the Beanpot, a revered Boston college tournament that started in 1952. The same four teams from that city played in it every year.

On Saturday, the four WCHA teams located in Minnesota will play in back-to-back games at one site, too. St. Cloud State will face Minnesota Duluth at 4:07 p.m at Xcel Energy Center, followed by the Gophers and Mavericks at 7:37 p.m.

UMD and MSU gave up home games to make the showcase happen. As tournament co-hosts, they will split any proceeds from the doubleheader.

The showcase came together by chance at the NCAA convention in January. The athletic directors at Minnesota Duluth and Mankato approached Bruce McLeod, commissioner of the WCHA, to ask him about each of them moving a home game.

He agreed to help.

"It was pretty much an accident the four teams were all playing each other this weekend," McLeod said.

That does not happen in the schedule next season, but, "We do have a way of working it out; we do have a plan," McLeod said.

That plan won't become reality, though, until school officials from the four Minnesota teams and McLeod meet again at the next NCAA convention. They will review how the first showcase went and decide if and when to hold the next one.

Turnout will be one factor.

"We'll probably land around 10,000 in attendance," said Kathy O'Connor, public and media relations director for the Xcel. "That's a total equal to what [UMD and MSU] would have at their arenas. We hope to grow it from there."

Told of the Xcel's projections, McLeod said, "Hopefully, they will get a little more than that. This is a real opportunity to showcase the WCHA and the caliber of teams in Minnesota."

Mavericks coach Troy Jutting also hopes the showcase is a success.

"The whole day is good for Minnesota hockey," Jutting said. "If I am a PeeWee or Bantam, to have the chance to go watch all four Division I teams, there is something to be said for that."

For possible increased revenue, too.

"When you get right down to it," Jutting said, "you have to support programs. We have 23 athletic programs and 600-some athletes."

Gophers coach Don Lucia said his team never would give up a home game to play in a future showcase, but it makes sense for MSU and UMD to do so this year.

"They have a large number of alums in the Cities," Lucia said. "We'll see how many people turn out. If there is 18,000 people, it is a great thing. If there is 12,000, that's not as great."

Lucia said his team will treat Saturday's game as if it were a home game, which means a morning skate at Mariucci and no watching the first game.

"We're there for business; we are not fans," Lucia said. "It is a great event as far as the fans go. They get to see two games and they are pick 'em games. You have no idea who will win either game."

Players seem genuinely excited about Saturday's game.

"A lot of family and friends are coming," said Mavericks forward Jerad Stewart of Hastings. "I've never played there before, so I am looking forward to it."

Tickets, sold for both games only, range from $32 to $42. All three non-metro teams have pregame events planned for their fans and alumni. St. Cloud State has the biggest, a social at the Crowne Plaza Riverfront Hotel at 1 p.m. Minnesota State and Minnesota Duluth have smaller receptions set at the Xcel.

There were plans for a contest to name the showcase -- how about the Hockey Hot Dish? -- but they were scraped because of its uncertain fate for next year.

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