North Dakota to host 2015 NCAA Men’s West Regional Championship

GRAND FORKS, N.D. – The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) announced today that it has selected the University of North Dakota to host the 2015 NCAA Men’s Hockey West Regional Championship at Scheels Arena in Fargo.

The sites were selected by the respective sport committees, which are made up of coaches and administrators from NCAA member schools and conferences, and approved by the appropriate divisional championships cabinets/committees.

“We are honored and excited to have been awarded the 2015 NCAA Men’s West Regional,” said UND Director of Athletics Brian Faison. “This hosting opportunity is the result of a great team effort partnering UND with Ralph Engelstad Arena and Scheels Arena.”

Scheels Arena is the home of the United States Hockey League’s Fargo Force franchise. It has also previously hosted the 2009 IIHF World U18 Hockey Championship.

“Sheels Arena will be a great venue for the 2015 NCAA West Regional tournament,” said UND head men’s hockey coach Dave Hakstol. “It’s a first-class facility that is within driving distance for the fans of several college hockey programs. The atmosphere in the building should be second-to-none within regional competition.”

“We are confident that a NCAA Men’s West Region Tournament will be a huge success in Fargo. Scheels Arena provides a great off-campus location for a regional tournament and we look forward to the tournament returning to North Dakota,” said Ralph Engelstad Arena general manager Jody Hodgson.

 

“We are extremely excited to host Division I hockey in our venue and in our city,” said Scheels Arena general manager Jon Kram. “Even more than that, we are pleased to be working in conjunction with the University of North Dakota and Ralph Engelstad Arena. It is a testament to the willingness of the organizations to work together to ensure our communities have access to elite events such as this one when so often we are thought of as competitors by the general public. It sets the stage for future partnerships that will continue to enhance the communities in which we live and operate.”