For the third time this season, the Gophers women's hockey team has had a series postponed because of COVID-19 issues with their opponent.

The WCHA announced Thursday that the Monday-Tuesday series between the second-ranked Gophers and No. 6 Minnesota Duluth at Ridder Arena has been postponed because the Bulldogs will not be able to meet the minimum number of players required to compete under WCHA protocols.

A makeup date for the series will be announced later.

The latest postponement follows a pair of December series that were moved to later in the season. The Gophers will host No. 1 Wisconsin on Feb. 5-6 and play at No. 4 Ohio State on Jan. 29-30.

The Gophers (5-1), idle since sweeping Minnesota State Mankato on Dec. 10-11, are scheduled to return to action Jan. 9-10 in a home-and-home series against St. Cloud State that begins at Ridder Arena.

"Hopefully, that all happens," Gophers coach Frost said Wednesday, before the latest postponement.

Randy Johnson