National attention
Women’s club hockey seeded No. 11 in national tournament
In its first year of existence, the NDSU women’s club hockey has gained nationwide respect.
It was invited, by a panel of coaches around the country, to participate in the 2006 American Collegiate Hockey Association National Championship.
The tournament will be held in Wentzville, Mo., and hosted by No. 2 Lindenwood University.
The Bison, led by captains Danielle Peterson and Heather Peterson, will face the host team Thursday night as part of the preliminary rounds.
“ We are excited because it is only our first year and we have already been invited,” Peterson said.
NDSU lost in a two-game series to Lindenwood 5-0 and 7-0 at the Coliseum in February.
“ The top two teams in the tournament are ridiculously good,” Peterson said.
NDSU is ranked No. 11 out of 12 and will also face Western Michigan University as part of pool play.
Lindenwood is expected to win Pool C, which NDSU is a part of, leaving one spot to advance to the playoffs.
“ We haven’t played each other, so neither team will be too prepared for its opponent,” Peterson said about the game versus WMU.
That is if NDSU can afford to fly down.
The team was allotted $3,500 by student government — the same amount that was given to NDSU club volleyball — for travel costs.
The team’s total expenses will total $7,500, leaving a sum for the players to fill in quickly.
To help pay for costs, the team held a raffle at a Fargo-Moorhead Jets hockey game over the weekend that raised $300.
Although it is not nearly enough to make a major impact toward the total, everything is helpful.
“ That night will pay for someone’s plane ticket,” Peterson said.
The hockey team is a club sport that cannot offer players athletic scholarships.