Even though the bay area doesn't have any schools playing NCAA Division I men's ice hockey, the Tampa Bay Times Forum will once again serve as host for the NCAA Men's Ice Hockey Championships in 2016.
It will be the second time Tampa hosts the Frozen Four. Boston College beat Ferris State 4-1 to win the championship in 2012.
The University of Alabama in Huntsville - the closest school to field a Division I hockey team at the time - was the host school for that tournament.
The University of Wisconsin and Tampa Bay Sports Commission will serve as hosts in 2016. Rob Higgins, executive director of the Sports Commission, tells the Tampa Bay Times, despite the distance, the pairing is "a marriage made in heaven."
The USF men's hockey team, the Ice Bulls, are more of a club sport, receiving no support from the university athletic department.
The Tampa Bay Times Forum will also host the Women's Division I Basketball Final Four in 2015, with USF serving as the host school.
On a video released this morning, the NCAA also announced the Frozen Four sites for 2015 (Boston), 2017 (Chicago) and 2018 (St. Paul, Minn).
http://youtu.be/7w4miGEYK60
