The Gopher Women’s Hockey Team will host the 2017 WCHA Frozen Face-off this weekend at Ridder Arena, but will be far from the favorites to take home the title. The nationally fifth ranked Gophers are the #2 seed and will take on #2 nationally, but #3 seed UMD at 5:07 on Saturday. #1 Wisconsin takes on North Dakota in the first semi-final at 2:07.
The Gophers are considerable underdogs coming into the tournament. Minnesota was swept by UMD in Duluth in January, and is coming off of a two-tie performance against the Badgers two weekends ago. Minnesota struggled in their first round matchup against Bemidji State last weekend, going to a third and deciding game Sunday afternoon before finally ending the Beavers season 3-2.