In January, I wrote a piece on the potential expansion of NCAA Hockey. Some people felt inclined to send some pretty humorous emails to us. Phrases like “you’re crazy”, “it will never happen”, and my personal favorite “Jerry Tarkanian is going to be the coach too”.
While its true that TJHN does not shy away from controversy, we had, and continue to receive credible information that says the NCAA believes Las Vegas may be able to support NCAA hockey.
In that article I wrote about a game being scheduled between North Dakota and Minnesota. The comments regarding that idea were once again very colorful. “No way this happens”, “Are you high”, and “you shouldn’t write when drinking” were a few of the comments.
Yesterday, it was confirmed that North Dakota and Minnesota will play in the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame Game in Las Vegas in October 2018. An official announcement is expected to take place in the next two weeks.
The game is scheduled to take place at the Orleans Arena. A 7,773-seat horseshoe venue that previously served as home of the Las Vegas Wranglers of the East Coast Hockey League.
Now, feel free to call me crazy, or stupid, but if you think for one second that the University of Nevada Las Vegas will not be watching how well this game is received by fans, you are the one that might be crazy.
In a time when hockey at the NCAA level is becoming much more than a niche’ sport, Las Vegas will get its first look at what could be at UNLV.
Joe Hughes
