Girls' hockey state tournament consolation games staying in St. Paul

Girls' hockey state tournament consolation games are staying in St. Paul this February.

All six games will be played at TRIA Rink at Treasure Island Center, just blocks from Xcel Energy Center. Previously, these games were played at Ridder Arena on the University of Minnesota campus.

The Minnesota State High School League, which announced the move on Tuesday, agreed in principal to the terms of a one-year contract. The league projects a savings of about $7,000. The final amount is dependent on actual labor costs of hosting the tournament and final attendance numbers.

Seating capacity at TRIA Rink, the practice facility of the Minnesota Wild and home site of the Minnesota Whitecaps of the professional National Women's Hockey League, is 1,200.

Only once in the past four seasons has consolation attendance exceeded 700 fans, according to the league's records.

"The League is hopeful that the experience is enhanced and that we see increased fan support because of the centralized location of the girls' hockey state tournament," league spokesperson Tim Leighton said in an e-mail.

The girls' hockey state tournament takes place Feb. 20-23.

Here's the full press release:

The Minnesota State High School League, in partnership with the Xcel Energy Center, announced today that the consolation series of the girls' hockey state tournament will be played at TRIA Rink at Treasure Island Center in downtown Saint Paul beginning next month. With the quarterfinals and championship rounds already being played at the Xcel Energy Center, it brings the tournament to one centralized area for the first time since 2005.

"This is incredible news," said Tim Morris, executive director of the Minnesota Girls Hockey Coaches Association. "This move will keep the girls' hockey state tournament in the same community, and it will bring a level of excitement that these teams, these participants and these communities deserve."

The MGHCA, through its executive committee, asked the League almost a year ago to explore the possibility of moving the consolation series from Ridder Arena on the University of Minnesota campus to the TRIA Rink, the practice facility of the Minnesota Wild, the home site of the Minnesota Whitecaps of the professional National Women's Hockey League, and a 10-minute walk from the Xcel Energy Center. Since 2006, the girls' hockey state tournament has been held at two different venues in two different cities. From 2003-2005, the championships rounds were played at Ridder Arena and the consolation series was played at the adjacent 3M Arena at Mariucci.

The move also coincides with the League's celebrating the 25th girls' hockey state tournament. During the 1994-95 season, the Minnesota State High School League became the first state high school association in the nation to sanction girls' hockey as an activity. This season's four-day girls hockey state tournament is scheduled for Feb. 20-23 with the debut of the consolation series at TRIA Rink set for Feb. 21-23.

The TRIA Rink at Treasure Island Center also serves as the home facility for the Hamline University women's hockey team, an emerging Division III power.

"The addition of the MSHSL girls' hockey state tournament consolation games are a natural fit for the TRIA Rink," said Jack Larson, Xcel Energy Center Vice President and General Manager.

The TRIA Rink at Treasure Island Center is located at 400 Wabasha Street in Saint Paul, on the site of the former Dayton's and Macy's department store.