(MINNEAPOLIS, March 15, 2016) Teams from Minnesota, North Dakota, and Colorado will take to the ice in Minneapolis this weekend for the National Collegiate Hockey Conference Frozen Faceoff, and there are lots of ways for local fans and visitors to take part in the hockey excitement. Teams from the University of Minnesota Duluth, University of North Dakota, University of Denver and St. Cloud State University will play at Target Center March 18-19.

See the NCHC trophy at Minneapolis Visitor Information—and sign up to win!

Fans can get a taste of the tournament in the days leading up to the games by stopping by Minneapolis Visitor Information at Nicollet and 5th Street to see the NCHC trophy before the winning team gets to take it home. The trophy will be on display Tuesday, March 15 through Thursday, March 17.

While you’re at Minneapolis Visitor Information, you can pick up an NCHC hat or t-shirt, and you can sign up to win a $50 Visa gift card. One gift card will be given away to a randomly selected winner each day from March 15-20.

Hit the ice at Target Center for the Fan Skate

If you’ve ever wanted to hit the ice in a big-time arena and see what it’s like to be a college or professional hockey player, the NCHC Frozen Faceoff offers you a free chance to do just that. As part of the championship events, Sports Minneapolis is sponsoring the 2016 NCHC Fan Skate from 7 to 8:30 p.m., March 17 at Target Center.

The fan skate is your chance to take to the same ice where the college teams play, in the center of a 20,000-seat arena. Fans can enter Target Center’s main lobby doors on 1st Avenue beginning at 6:30 p.m., and skate rentals will be available for a small fee. Fans are welcome to bring their own skates, but no sticks, pucks, balls, or skate-assist equipment will be allowed.

#AskMPLS your questions!

Whether you’re following one of the NCHC teams to town, or if you live in the area, March 17 will be an exciting day in Minneapolis, with the fan skate and a range of St. Patrick’s Day festivities, including the Minneapolis St. Patrick’s Day Parade downtown that evening.

Tweet to #AskMPLS to ask questions about Minneapolis while you’re in town for the events. Meet Minneapolis team members can provide recommendations on what to do, where to eat, how to get around, and just about anything you’d like to know about the city. And if you’re visiting Minneapolis for the Frozen Faceoff, the fan skate or the St. Patrick’s Day parade, be sure to stop by Minneapolis Visitor Information on Nicollet, located in the center of the action at Nicollet and Fifth Street. It’s the perfect place to plan your time in Minneapolis, learn about transportation options, or find the perfect gift made by a Minnesota artist.

ABOUT THE NATIONAL COLLEGIATE HOCKEY CONFERENCE

The National Collegiate Hockey Conference is an eight-school, NCAA Division I men’s hockey conference that is in the post season of its third season. The NCHC’s member institutions are: Colorado College, the University of Denver, Miami University, the University of Minnesota Duluth, the University of Nebraska Omaha, the University of North Dakota, St. Cloud State University and Western Michigan University. Since 2000, this collection of hockey programs has combined to win four NCAA Championships and made 20 Frozen Four appearances, including three Frozen Four berths in the NCHC's two-year history. For more information, visit www.nchchockey.com.

ABOUT SPORTS MINNEAPOLIS

Sports Minneapolis, powered by Meet Minneapolis, works to recruit, enhance and produce sporting events in the Minneapolis area for the benefit of our community. We do this by partnering with event rights holders to assist them with venue selection, event services, volunteer identification, marketing and promotional support and on-site recognition opportunities in order to ensure a successful event. For more information, visit www.sportsminneapolis.org.

MEDIA CONTACT

Matt Laible, Director of P.R. and Communications, 612.767.8220, mattl@minneapolis.org