College Hockey:
2011 Ice Breaker moved to North Dakota; Boston College, Michigan State, Air Force also in field

USCHO Staff Report • Feb. 23, 2011

A change in plans for the 2011 Ice Breaker Tournament has the event moving to Grand Forks, N.D., where North Dakota, Boston College, Michigan State and Air Force will make up the field.

The Oct. 7-8 tournament was originally scheduled for a second straight season in St. Louis, but a conflict with the NHL schedule of the St. Louis Blues prompted the move, said Paul Kelly, executive director of College Hockey Inc.

The Hockey Commissioners Association and the St. Louis Sports Commission mutually agreed to move the tournament to Grand Forks, Kelly said, to avoid a split schedule like in this season’s event, which took place on Friday and Sunday because of a Blues game on Saturday.

The 2012 event is still scheduled for Kansas City, Mo., Kelly said.

The 2011 edition at Ralph Engelstad Arena will the the 15th Ice Breaker.

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Ron Burgundy
Why was St Louis going to host two years in a row? By all accounts the attendance was terrible this year.
Is SLU looking to make a comeback or something?
And lastly, why in the name of God is this going to Kansas City in 2012?
- Anonymous
  Good question, maybe their trying to get University of Missouri a hockey team.
- Warm Up The Beanpot
  Kansas City has an empty arena with no NBA/NHL franchise. Why host the Ice Breaker where NCAA fans live? Then again, maybe Missouri and Kansas will get invited to the Big 10 if they can each create D-I hockey programs to get crushed by all-comers.
  - Anonymous
    Or maybe the Big 12 is looking into starting a hockey conference.
B.D.
I think they finally concluded putting buts in seats is more important than the extreme outside chance that they might lure an additonal 12-13 new fans to college hockey.
Half a dozen years ago the Ralph and its younger brother in Thief River Falls hosted the World Juniors tournament over Christmas break and all of the US and Canada games were filled to the 12,000 fan limit at the Ralph.
Lesser games such as the Germans did reasonably well over in Thief River.
If I were in town I would definately cath the UND games, perhaps the BC games, and maybe the Air Force.
The Built in TV studio capability at the Ralph with its Fox College Sports tie in/agreements on Direct TV will beam the games to those of us out here geographically seperated from Grand Forks.
Besides, the Ralph is just a stunning facility.
- B.D.
  For those who have not had the unparalleled
  pleasure of catching a game at the Ralph, both of the following articles give you just a flavor:
  http://www.thesportsroadtrip.com/ralphengelstadarena.html
  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ralph_Engelstad_Arena
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Siouxperman
Hockey in MO? Please why even speculate about Mizz U getting a hockey program. If you can’t sustain ANY college hockey in IA / SD, states that border hockey hotbeds such as MN and THE FIGHTING SIOUX OF ND, let’s stop fooling ourselves, there will be no college D 1 hockey in MO. Uof MN stands a better chance of adding badminton, as a DI sport, than hockey going to Missouri. Who knows could be Lucia’s next gig, as he’s had plently of players fly out early, so he’s very familiar with “birdies”…….
- Gopherit
  I’d put all of Minnesota’s “birdies” against the burnouts of North Dakota any day. Yeah, yeah, Zajac, Toews, blah, blah, blah. Blake is a burnout. Oshie blows. would much rather have Vanek, Kessel, Leopold, etc.
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Inthespiritofcrazyhorse
Hockey in MO is more appealing than hosting in the building of a team that has a blatantly racist history with little regard for the insensitivity the name alone generates towards Native Americans. Hosting in North Dakota rewards a team whose patron saint lived a questionable life generating huge controversy and the team, the fans, the administration don’t have the character to address the blatant issue even after his death. For shame on the tournament, for shame on North Dakota and for shame on their fans.
- Anonymous
  are you getting the state of Illinois to get rid of their hostile and abusive state name too?
  is there a CHANCE that a the nuances of a word can change over time?
  last… where do the Chiefs play football? are you so daft that you do not know that Chief was once the n-word applied to AMERICAN INDIANS? (I refuse to use your PC term)… do you post your drivel in Kansas City regarding the name CHIEFS?
- B.D.
  I see,
  The same Crazy Horse that has a statue outside of the Ralph that was universally celebrated by all the tribal leaders in North Dakota?
  I recommend you get a life.
  What is racist about the University of North Dakota? Please be precise.
  If one were to give black eyes to all institutions who have had “Interesting” benefactors then Oxford, Harvard, Yale, Princeton, Minnesota, and almost all others would be equally spotlighted.
  Would it not be worthwhile blackballing Missouri due to the Slavery issue alone?
  Cecil RHodes alone….
  Iget the feeling you are one of those people who envy UND, and thus seeks some form or angle of attack, regardless of validity. Nes pa?
- JaketheSnake
  Don’t be jealous
  - B.D.
    Envy IS an ugly beast…..
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