The NCAA Women's Ice Hockey Committee has selected Minneapolis as the site for the inaugural Women's Frozen Four. The University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, will host the event, which will be held March 23 and 25, 2001.

Because women's ice hockey holds a National Collegiate Championship, eligible institutions from all divisions that sponsor the sport will be considered for the championship.

Minnesota's women's ice hockey team has an average annual attendance of more than 23,000 (23,272 in 1999-00, 23,275 in 1998-99 and 33,719 in 1997-98). Mariucci Arena, which has a capacity of 9,700, has been the site of several U.S. national women's ice hockey events, including the U.S. National Team vs. the Canadian National Team in 1997. The facility also hosted last year's West Regional in Division I men's ice hockey.

The women's ice hockey committee is now accepting bids for the 2002 championship.

The deadline for bids is November 17. In January, the committee will solicit bids for the 2003 and 2004 championships. For more information about site selection for the championship, contact Troy Arthur, NCAA assistant director of championships, at the national office.