INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. – The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) on Sunday night announced the 10-team field for its Division III Women’s Ice Hockey Championship and Gustavus (22-3-2) is selected to host UW-Eau Claire (23-5-0) in the first round on Wednesday, March 9. Puck drop at Don Roberts Ice Rink is slated for 7 p.m.
Gustavus earned an automatic bid as the playoff champion of the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference, while the Blugolds earned an at-large bid out of the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference.
The winner of Wednesday night’s game will face the winner of UW-River Falls (26-1) and Aurora (21-6) at 3 p.m. Saturday with the host team to be determined after Wednesday’s games.
Gustavus is making its first trip to the NCAA Championships since 2020 when it lost at UW-River Falls before the remainder of the tournament was canceled due to the onset of the pandemic. This year’s national tourney berth is the 15th in program history for the Gusties, where they hold a 10-19 record. UW-Eau Claire is making its fourth appearance at the NCAA Championships and first since 2020. Gustavus and UW-Eau Claire are matching up in the NCAA tournament for the first time since 2018 when the Blugolds upset the Gusties 3-2 in triple overtime, marking the longest game in the history of Division III women’s hockey. The game lasted over four hours from start to finish with 101:02 of actual game play.
2022 Division III Women’s Hockey Bracket
Tickets for Wednesday’s game can be purchased at the ticket booth of Don Roberts Ice Rink starting one hour prior to game time.
Adults: $7
Students: $4
Children ages 3-12: $3
Children 2 and under: free