Gopher Women's Hockey Preps For National Title Game
MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- There's gotta be a good reason behind the Gophers reaching their fourth straight national title game, right?
"I think it's obviously the coaching," deadpanned coach Brad Frost, during Saturday's preview press conferences. "Just kidding."
Frost was comedic and reflective not long after the Gophers finished their final practice of the season Saturday – their final tune-up for the title game, and the final time this impressive group ever would practice together.
A group led by a senior class that has known nothing but title games.
"Our senior class, when you look at what they've accomplished here, they've played in every single game that they could possibly play in," Frost said. "It's an unbelievable stretch. And so we're going to rely heavily on them here tomorrow."
The Gophers will certainly have one big advantage tomorrow. The game is in Ridder Arena, where they haven't lost a postseason game in five years – a streak of eight straight victories. The chance to play a national championship game with home ice advantage? It doesn't get more advantageous than that.
"I didn't know that, that stat in regards to the five years," Frost said. "I think it's more just about trying to be at our best and trying to generate some chances to get the crowd into the game. And we know that if we don't play our best here tomorrow that the outcome isn't going to be what we want. But to have a crowd of 3,500 behind you is a pretty electrifying feeling."
Harvard coach Katey Stone said her team is ready to play what amounts to a road game.
"We've played in some pretty hostile environments this season, and we're good on the road. We kind of get acclimated very quickly to the building that we're in, to the crowd and the atmosphere," she said. "We'll embrace it, and try to make some noise of our own."
