GRAND FORKS, N.D. (AP) — North Dakota’s rich college hockey history includes seven national championships, plenty of state pride — and a decades-old dispute over the Fighting Sioux nickname.
As the team enters the NCAA tournament this weekend, the Fighting Sioux are no more. The NCAA won’t allow the nickname or the American Indian logo to be displayed during postseason play, a prohibition that has been fought by boosters, university leaders and state legislators for years. But while legal challenges linger, the ban is in effect.
That means North Dakota will take the ice in St. Paul, Minn., for the West Regional semifinal game against Western Michigan as, well, North Dakota. The team will don new jerseys without the nickname or the logo for the first time Saturday afternoon.
