In part three of IIHF.com's series on college hockey, Martin Merk looks at UND and NCAA women's hockey as it continues to grow internationally.

ZURICH - In men's hockey, playing in college is only one of several options for becoming a world-class player. In women's hockey, however, the NCAA offers unparalleled conditions to become a superstar.

The NCAA Division I is the foundation behind the success of the U.S. women's national hockey team. The league even succeeds in luring Canadian players away from Canadian Interuniversity Sport, the NCAA's equivalent up north.

Nowadays, more and more European players who go to North America are finding themselves in a paradise for female hockey players, while Division I recruiters are finding themselves as a demander for talent.

But why is the NCAA so good at recruiting players? And why is it considered a top development source for female hockey players?

For the complete article or links to part one or part two of the series on college hockey click here.