MINNEAPOLIS - The University of Minnesota women's hockey team is pleased to announce the return of the Youth VIP Hockey Pass for the 2013-14 season. This program provides youth with free access to all regular season Gopher women's hockey games at Ridder Arena.

After a successful first year of the program last year, the Gophers are pleased to offer the Youth VIP Hockey Pass again this season. Over 1,300 fans took advantage of the program during the 2012-13 season. Boys and girls in eighth grade and younger who play on a youth hockey team are eligible to sign up as an individual or as a team for the Gopher Youth VIP Hockey Pass.

Youth VIP Hockey Pass holders can pick up their VIP passes in the lobby of Ridder Arena at any Gopher women's hockey regular season home game beginning Oct. 11 against Wisconsin. VIP passes will not be available for Minnesota's two exhibition games this week, but free admission is available to everyone for to these games.

Online registration for the Youth VIP Hockey Pass is available, or you may sign up in the lobby of Ridder Arena at any Gopher women's hockey home game.

Sign up today! The Gophers begin their quest to defend their back-to-back national championships on the road next weekend, and the team hosts the Wisconsin Badgers at Ridder Arena at 6 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 11.

Please note that the pass does not apply to postseason games or the regular season Hockey City Classic outdoor game at TCF Bank Stadium.

If you have questions, please feel free to call Gopher Fan Relations at 612-624-8080.

http://www.gophersports.com/sports/w-hockey/spec-rel/vip-pass.html