The UMD women’s hockey team will hit the AMSOIL Arena ice on Friday for the first round of the WCHA playoffs, as they host St. Cloud State in a three game series. The message from head coach Maura Crowell is that it’s business as usual.

“Managing the pressures that come with playoff hockey, enjoying the moment, enjoying the fact that we got ourselves to this point, enjoying being the home team here this weekend and being able to sleep in your own beds like all of those things, but also like let’s not make this into too big of a deal. This is hockey. This is the same thing you’ve been doing all year. Continue to stick with your habits, continue to make sure you’re dialed in all week to get yourself ready for the weekend.”

The Bulldogs drop the puck with the Huskies on Friday at 4 p.m..