MINNEAPOLIS (GopherSports.com) – Gopher Hockey is heading to the Entertainment Capital of the World as Minnesota will play North Dakota in the 2018 U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame Game at the Orleans Arena in Las Vegas on Saturday, Oct. 27, 2018.



The two programs have also finalized a four-year series agreement beginning with in 2019-20, guaranteeing matchups for one of college hockey’s top rivalries for the next seven seasons.



“We are always interested in providing new and exciting experiences for our student-athletes and fans, and bringing one of college hockey’s best rivalries to Las Vegas certainly fits the bill,” Minnesota Director of Athletics Mark Coyle said. “With these two programs facing off, you know you’re going to get a great game, and the University of Minnesota is excited to participate in a memorable event at Orleans Arena.”



“This is both a great experience for our student-athletes and an opportunity to grow the game in a non-traditional college hockey market,” Minnesota head coach Don Lucia said. “Taking our rivalry with North Dakota to Las Vegas will be great for both programs, our fans and college hockey, and we are certainly looking forward to it.”



The 2018 U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame Game – an exempt game hosted by North Dakota – will mark the third-straight season that the Gophers and the Fighting Hawks face off. The two former conference rivals will renew their long-standing rivalry this year, Nov. 4-5, at Mariucci Arena before playing a two-game series in Grand Forks during the 2017-18 season.



The University of Minnesota will be provided with a limited number of tickets for the 2018 U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame Game to sell exclusively to Gopher fans. Additional ticketing information will be made available at a later date.



With 291 all-time meetings in a series that dates to 1930, the Minnesota-North Dakota rivalry is one of the most prolific in college hockey. The Gophers boast a 146-130-15 all-time record against the Fighting Hawks including the most recent meeting – a 2-1 victory in the 2014 NCAA Frozen Four semifinal at Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia.



The Orleans Arena, located just west of the Las Vegas Strip, is one of the nation’s leading multi-purpose sports and entertainment facilities. According to Venues Today magazine, the Orleans Arena, which hosts more than 200 events each year, consistently ranks in the Top 10 for ticket sales in the United States and internationally among venues of similar size. The capacity for a hockey game at the Orleans Arena is 7,453. For more information, visit www.OrleansArena.com.



-Pride on Ice-