Gophers Hockey Faces Pressure to Break Early Exit Trend in NCAA Tournament

The University of Minnesota men's hockey team is gearing up for the NCAA Division I tournament, beginning March 27, after a disappointing exit from the Big Ten playoffs where they lost to Notre Dame. Coach Bob Motzko is optimistic despite the setback, emphasizing the importance of focusing on the upcoming single-elimination games. Meanwhile, the Gophers women's hockey team is set to face Colgate in the NCAA Quarterfinals, looking to capitalize on their home advantage at Ridder Arena after finishing as runners-up in the Big Ten tournament. The women's team secured a fourth-place ranking in the national Pairwise Rankings, which has granted them a bye into the Quarterfinals. Additionally, the men's team will engage local fans with a free intrasquad scrimmage in Rochester, showcasing players like Brody Lamb and Zach Wiese. Both teams are aiming for national championships, with the men's team last achieving this in 2003.