The 50-yard line of Soldier Field in Chicago served as the site for a news conference Wednesday to reveal details of the Gophers' upcoming venture into outdoor men's hockey.
The Gophers will play Wisconsin in one game Feb. 17 at Soldier Field, and Notre Dame and Miami will meet in another game. This will be the first outdoor game in the modern college hockey era for the Gophers, Notre Dame and Miami. Wisconsin has played in several.
For the Gophers and Wisconsin, it will be the last meeting in a WCHA regular-season game; both teams will be in the new Big Ten Conference the following season.
The pairings have long been known. Wednesday's gathering served to reveal details about the twinbill, called the Hockey City Classic.
Tickets will go on sale to the general public on Oct. 1. Season-ticket holders of the four participating teams and of the Chicago Bears will be able to buy tickets before that.
"It is something that I have always wanted to do," Gophers coach Don Lucia said in a release from organizers. "Soldier Field has great history, and this is a wonderful opportunity for the University of Minnesota to play in its first recent outdoor hockey game. ... Playing Wisconsin, one of our big rivals, will only add to the experience and make it extra special."
ROMAN AUGUSTOVIZ
