I was at the first game the Gophers played in Ridder Arena on Oct. 19, 2002. I remember there was a big crowd — 3,239 — and everybody got a maroon cushion to sit on.

My wife, daughter and I took five cushions home. Not sure how we got the extra two and I kept them until a garage sale last summer. But I still have the program from that historic game.

That’s why it was nice to learn that the Ridders received a major award recently. They helped bring women’s hockey to the U and build the women’s rink.

It’s an ideal size for women’s hockey, but still is pretty empty a lot of games.

Maybe this young women’s hockey team can get more fans interested if it makes a deep run in the playoffs. The freshman class has some emerging stars such as Monique and Jocelyn Lamoureux at forward and Alyssa Grogan in the nets.

Here is a news release from the U on the award the Ridders received: 

The American Hockey Coaches’ Association has announced that Kathleen Ridder and her late husband, Bob, are the 2009 recipients of the Joe Burke Award. The award is given annually to the person or persons who have given outstanding contribution, support and dedication to women’s ice hockey. The award is named in honor of girls’ and women’s hockey “superfan” and Harvard University alum, Joe Burke.

Bob and Kathleen Ridder were fundamental in bringing women’s ice hockey to the University of Minnesota. Both were members of the women’s hockey advisory task force, while Bob Ridder co-chaired the committee. After helping establish women’s hockey at Minnesota, both Kathleen and Bob were leaders and instrumental in fundraising for the new arena, which was later named after them. To this day, Ridder Arena is the only collegiate facility built solely for women’s hockey.

Kathleen Ridder established the first-ever endowed scholarship for women student-athletes at Minnesota in 1983. The founding member of the Women’s Athletics Advisory Council, Kathleen was also on the Minnesota Foundation Board of Trustees. She was later inducted into the Women’s Athletics Hall of Fame. Bob Ridder, along with two others, founded the Minnesota Amateur Hockey Association (MAHA) in 1947. He was the manager of two silver-winning U.S. Men’s Olympic Teams in 1952 and 1956. When professional hockey came to Minnesota in 1966, Ridder became one of the North Star owners and was the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame director. He was later inducted into the same organization in 1976 for his contribution to the sport and was awarded the NHL’s Lester Patrick Award in 1994.

“The Ridders embody the same passion, energy, and commitment to the sport of women’s hockey that Joe Burke made famous over the years,” former Minnesota head coach Laura Halldorson said. “These two individuals were extremely instrumental in starting Division I women’s hockey in the Midwest. Their tireless work, amaz­ing financial contributions, and ability to build support led to the University of Minnesota’s decision to add the sport in 1995—at a time when the future was unknown. Looking back, this risk certainly paid off.”

“I do not know anyone who has given outstanding contribution, support and dedication to women’s hockey more than Bob and Kathleen Ridder,” director of athletics Joel Maturi said. “They love the game, are very much responsible for the establishment of the sport of women’s hockey at the University of Minnesota, have endowed a scholarship for women’s hockey and have the lead donation and worked tirelessly with the Minnesota Legislature and donors to build what is now Ridder Arena. To this day, Kathleen remains involved in and an advocate of all women who participate in the game.”

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