Monday, Aug. 16, 2021 | 9:31 a.m.
Las Vegas is getting a major college hockey game next year.
Perennial powerhouse North Dakota and the closest Division I program geographically, Arizona State, will play at T-Mobile Arena in the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame Game on Oct. 29, 2022, according to a report from the Grand Forks Herald. It will be the first-ever meeting between the two programs, which are both familiar with Las Vegas.
North Dakota came to town in 2018 for the Hall of Fame Game against Minnesota, an event that packed the Orleans Arena.
The Herald reported the game sold out immediately, and school officials wondered if T-Mobile Arena would have been a better destination.
Arizona State has played at Las Vegas’ premier hockey venue, winning the Las Vegas Invitational in 2018 with victories over Northern Michigan and Michigan Tech.
North Dakota, which will be the designated home team, and Arizona State are capable of drawing large crowds. The Fighting Hawks faithful are known as one of the best traveling fanbases in the league, while Tempe, Arizona, is about a five-hour drive from the Strip.
T-Mobile Arena will also host the 2026 Frozen Four, the first NCAA hockey championship played in Las Vegas. North Dakota is the host school for that tournament.
The last time college hockey came to Las Vegas was the Fortress Invitational in 2020 between Providence, Ohio State, Cornell and Army. The tournament featured Golden Knights draft picks forward Jack Dugan, who won the tournament MVP for Providence, and Layton Ahac, a defenseman for Ohio State. Both are now in the Vegas organization with the Silver Knights.
