Tommies, Gophers to square off in men's and women's hockey doubleheader

The games will be held Oct. 13 at Xcel Energy Center. The women's teams have played 12 times, but this will be the first official meeting for the men's squads.

May 11, 2023 at 10:01PM
Gophers forward Savannah Norcross (27) tried to get the puck past St. Thomas goaltender Alexa Dobchuk when the women’ teams met Jan. 8 at Ridder Arena. (Anthony Souffle, Star Tribune/The Minnesota Star Tribune)

St. Thomas and the Gophers will play a men's and women's hockey doubleheader on Oct. 13 at Xcel Energy Center, the St. Thomas athletic department announced Thursday.

The Tommies, who are entering their third season as a Division I program, will be the host of the doubleheader. The Tommies and Gophers women will play at 4 p.m., followed by the men's teams at 7:30 p.m.

This will be the first official men's hockey meeting between the Tommies and the Gophers. The St. Thomas and Minnesota women's teams have played 12 times over the past two seasons as part of WCHA play.

"We are excited to play the Gophers, one of the best programs in all of college hockey,'' St. Thomas men's coach Rico Blasi said in a statement. "It's also a great opportunity to play in one of the best hockey venues in the country."

Added Tommies women's coach Joel Johnson: "The opportunity to have this matchup in downtown St. Paul, in the 'State of Hockey,' against a storied program like the University of Minnesota is something we know will grow the game and generate a great atmosphere.''

Tickets will go on sale at 10 a.m. Aug. 22 with details to be announced on Xcelenergycenter.com and Tommiesports.com. Season ticket-holders for St. Thomas and the Gophers will have access to a priority presale on Aug. 14. One ticket will provide access to both games.

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about the writer

Randy Johnson

College football reporter

Randy Johnson covers University of Minnesota football and college football for the Minnesota Star Tribune, along with Gophers hockey and the Wild.

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